Patent Publication Number: US-9431142-B2

Title: Methods of coating substrates with electrically charged conductive materials, electrically conductive coated substrates, and associated apparatuses

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is a divisional of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/527,795, filed on Jun. 20, 2012 and entitled “METHODS OF COATING SUBSTRATES WITH ELECTRICALLY CHARGED CONDUCTIVE MATERIALS, ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE COATED SUBSTRATES, AND ASSOCIATED APPARATUSES,” the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to protective coatings. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Coatings are applied to substrates for a variety of reasons, including decorative reasons as well as functional reasons. Protection of the underlying substrate (or structure otherwise protected by the underlying substrate) from one or more of wind, ultraviolet light, precipitation, lightning, electrostatic interference, electromagnetic fields, and electromagnetic radiation may be desired, depending on an application of the substrate. 
     SUMMARY 
     Methods according to the present disclosure include applying an electric charge to a coating material that includes carbon nanotubes and a carrier, and depositing the electrically charged coating material to a substrate. In some methods, the applying includes spraying the coating material from an electrostatic sprayer. In some methods, the substrate is an insulator. In some methods, the substrate is isolated from ground during the depositing. In some methods, the depositing results in regions of carbon nanotubes that are substantially aligned longitudinally relative to each other. In some methods, the depositing results in regions of carbon nanotubes that are arranged in a zig-zag pattern. In some methods, the depositing includes aligning regions of the carbon nanotubes in a predetermined configuration to create a predetermined conductivity profile of the coated substrate. In some methods, the substrate includes a portion of an aircraft, a spacecraft, a land vehicle, a marine vehicle, a wind turbine, any apparatus fabricated from electrically resistive materials that may be susceptible to lightning strikes or any other types of electromagnetic effects, or any other suitable apparatus. 
     Coated substrates according to the present disclosure include a substrate and a coating on the substrate that includes carbon nanotubes and a carrier. Some coated substrates include a substrate that is an insulator. Some coated substrates include coatings that have regions of carbon nanotubes that are substantially aligned longitudinally relative to each other. Some coated substrates include coatings that have regions of carbon nanotubes that are arranged in a zig-zag pattern. Some coated substrates include coatings that have carbon nanotubes that define a conductivity profile of the coating. Illustrative, non-exclusive examples of conductivity profiles include profiles that effectuate electrostatic dispersal by the coated substrate. Some coated substrates may define a portion of an aircraft, a spacecraft, a land vehicle, a marine vehicle, a wind turbine, any apparatus fabricated from electrically resistive materials that may be susceptible to lightning strikes or any other types of electromagnetic effects, or any other suitable apparatus. 
     Aircraft, spacecraft, land vehicles, marine vehicles, wind turbines, apparatuses fabricated from electrically resistive materials that may be susceptible to lightning strikes or any other types of electromagnetic effects, and any other suitable apparatuses also are within the scope of the present disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a flowchart schematically representing methods according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic profile view of a coated substrate according to the present disclosure, with the coated substrate optionally defining a portion of an apparatus. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic illustration representing coatings according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is an image of a portion of a coating containing carbon nanotubes that was applied to a glass substrate with an electrostatic sprayer, the image taken by a scanning electron microscope at a magnification of 10,000×. 
         FIG. 5  is an image of a portion of the coating of  FIG. 4  taken at a magnification of 17,500×. 
         FIG. 6  is an image of a portion of the coating of  FIG. 4  taken at a magnification of 40,000×. 
         FIG. 7  is an image of a portion of a coating containing carbon nanotubes that was applied to an aluminum substrate with an electrostatic sprayer, the image taken by a scanning electron microscope at a magnification of 25,000×. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     Methods of coating substrates, coated substrates, and various apparatuses having coated substrates are disclosed herein. 
     Methods of coating substrates are schematically represented in  FIG. 1  and are indicated at  10 .  FIG. 2  schematically illustrates in profile coated substrates  20  according to the present disclosure that are formed by methods  10 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , coated substrates  20  include a substrate  22  and a coating  24  that is defined by a coating material  26 . Coated substrates  20  may form a portion of any suitable apparatus  28 , illustrative, non-exclusive examples of which include (but are not limited to) aircraft, spacecraft, land vehicle, marine vehicles, and wind turbines. An apparatus  28  may be an apparatus fabricated from electrically resistive materials that is susceptible to lightning strikes or any other electromagnetic effects, such as build-up of electrostatic charges. A coated substrate  20  may define an external surface of an apparatus  28 ; however, other portions, including internal portions of apparatuses  28 , also may be defined by a coated substrate  20 . In some embodiments, coating  24  may be described as a protective coating  24 , and properties of the coating  24  may be selected to result in a desired function of the coating  24  relative to the substrate  22 . For example, desired properties associated with a coating  24  may relate to the electrical resistivity or conductivity of the coating  24 , the durability of the coating  24  against weather, such as wind, ultraviolet light, precipitation, and lightning, the transparency of the coating  24 , etc. 
     Methods  10  include applying an electrical charge to a coating material  26  to create an electrically charged coating material  26 , as indicated at  12  in  FIG. 1 , and depositing the electrically charged coating material  26  to a substrate  22  to create a coated substrate  20 , as indicated at  14  in  FIG. 1 . As schematically illustrated in  FIGS. 2-3 , the coating material  26  includes at least carbon nanotubes  30  and a carrier  32 . In  FIG. 3 , the carbon nanotubes  30  are schematically represented by the various sized and oriented structures interspersed amongst the carrier  32 ; however, neither  FIG. 3  nor  FIG. 2  are drawn to scale and instead are schematic in nature to facilitate discussion of coated substrates  20 . 
     Any suitable type of carbon nanotubes  30  may be used in a coating material  26  and thus utilized by a method  10 , including (but not limited to) single-walled carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, double-walled carbon nanotubes, triple-walled carbon nanotubes, nanobuds, graphenated carbon nanotubes, carbon peapods, cup-stacked carbon nanotubes, functionalized nanotubes, filled nanotubes, and/or metal particle decorated nanotubes. When multi-walled carbon nanotubes are used, any suitable number of walls may be present. Illustrative, non-exclusive examples include (but are not limited to) multi-walled carbon nanotubes with 2-10, 2-8, 2-6, 2-4, 4-10, 4-8, 4-6, 6-10, 6-8, and/or 8-10 walls and carbon nanotubes with at least 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 10 walls. Other multi-walled carbon nanotubes outside of these enumerated ranges also are within the scope of the present disclosure and may be used in a coating material  26  and thus utilized by a method  10 .  FIG. 3  schematically represents that a coating material  26  may include more than one type of carbon nanotubes  30  or that a coating material  26  may include only a single type of carbon nanotube  30 . 
     Any suitable size of carbon nanotubes  30  may be used in a coating material  26 , including (but not limited to) carbon nanotubes  30  that have outer diameters in the range of 0-18, 0-15, 0-12, 0-9, 0-6, 0-3, 3-18, 3-15, 3-12, 3-9, 3-6, 6-18, 6-15, 6-12, 6-9, 9-18, 9-15, 9-12, 12-18, 12-15, and/or 15-18 nanometers, as well as carbon nanotubes  30  that have outer diameters of at least 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, or 18 nanometers. Any suitable length of carbon nanotubes  30  may be used, including (but not limited to) carbon nanotubes  30  that have lengths of at least 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 50, or 100 micrometers. Any suitable ratio of length to outer diameter of carbon nanotubes  30  may be used, including (but not limited to) ratios of at least 500, 1,000, 5,000, 10,000, 50,000, 100,000, 500,000, or 1,000,000. Sizes of carbon nanotubes  30  outside of the various enumerated ranges also are within the scope of the present disclosure and may be used in a coating material  26  and thus utilized by a method  10 .  FIG. 3  schematically illustrates carbon nanotubes  30  of various sizes, schematically representing that a coating material  26  may include carbon nanotubes  30  of more than size; however, it is within the scope of the present disclosure that a coating material  26  may include only or substantially only a single size of carbon nanotubes  30 . 
     Any suitable amount of carbon nanotubes  30  may be used in a coating material  26 . As illustrative, non-exclusive examples, the carbon nanotubes  30  may account for 0.1-5, 0.5-5, 1-5, or 3-5 weight percent (wt %) of the coating material  26 . Additionally or alternatively, the carbon nanotubes  30  may account for at least 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 weight percent of the coating material  26 . Additionally or alternatively, the carbon nanotubes  30  may account for less than 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 weight percent of the coating material  26 . Other ranges of weight percents outside of the enumerate ranges also are within the scope of the present disclosure and may be used for a coating material  26  and thus utilized by a method  10 . 
     Any suitable carrier  32  may be used in a coating material  26  and thus utilized by a method  10 . Carrier  32  additionally or alternatively may be referred to as a carrier system  32 . Illustrative, non-exclusive examples of carriers  32  include (but are not limited to) resin carriers that include vinyl-acrylic, vinyl acetate/ethylene, polyurethane, polyester, epoxy, and/or lacquer, as well as pigment, binder, water or other suitable solvent, and/or metallic particles. Additionally or alternatively, some carriers  32  and thus some coating materials  26  may be free of metallic particles. A carrier  32  may be selected for desired properties, such as for protection against weather, for color, for absence of color, etc. A carrier  32  may be transparent, substantially transparent, semi-transparent, or opaque, or when mixed with carbon nanotubes  30  may result in a transparent, substantially transparent, semi-transparent or opaque coating material  26 . 
     Any suitable substrate  22  may be used. For example, in some methods  10 , the substrate  22  may be non-conductive, substantially non-conductive, an insulator, or a conductor with an insulated external surface, or coating. The substrate  22  may have a volume resistivity of at least 10 9 , 10 12 , 10 14 , 10 16 , 10 18 , or 10 20  Ohm meters at 20 degrees Celsius. Additionally or alternatively, the substrate  22  may have a surface (or sheet) resistivity of at least 10 9 , 10 12 , 10 14 , 10 16 , 10 18 , or 10 20  Ohms/square at 20 degrees Celsius. Illustrative, non-exclusive examples of suitable substrates  22  include (but are not limited to) substrates that include glass, a reinforced or non-reinforced plastic having a thermoplastic and/or thermoset polymer. 
     In some methods  10 , during the depositing  14 , the substrate  22  is not grounded, is insulated from ground, is isolated from ground, and/or is otherwise isolated from electrically conductive material. Accordingly, during the depositing  14 , the charge applied to the coating material  26  will not dissipate upon the coating material  26  contacting the substrate  22 . As a result, and as discussed herein, the carbon nanotubes  30  within the coating material  26  will maintain a desired alignment due to the imparted charge during the applying  12 . Additionally or alternatively, during the depositing  14 , the coating material  26  may not be electrically attracted to the substrate  22 . Moreover, depending on the configuration of the carrier  32 , the alignment of the carbon nanotubes  30  will be maintained, fixed, or “locked” when the carrier  32  dries, cures, or otherwise solidifies on the substrate  22 . Accordingly, a method  10  additionally may be described as including a step of curing  16 , as schematically and optionally indicated in  FIG. 1  in a dashed box. 
     The depositing  14  and optional curing  16  of the coating material  26  to define a coating  24  may result in an electrical resistivity that is lower than an electrical resistivity of the substrate  22  without the coating  24 . Stated differently, the coated substrate  20  may have a lower surface (or sheet) resistivity than the surface of the substrate  22  without the coating  24 . As illustrative, non-exclusive examples, the coating  24 , and thus the coated substrate  20 , may have a surface (or sheet) resistivity that is less than or equal to 95, 90, 80, 70, 60, 50, 30, 20, 10, 1, 0.1, or 0.01 percent of a surface (or sheet) resistivity of the substrate  22  prior to the depositing  14 . Additionally or alternatively, the coated substrate  20  may have a surface (or sheet) resistivity that is less than or equal to 95, 90, 80, 70, 60, 50, 30, 20, 10, 1, 0.1, or 0.01 percent of an electrical (volume) resistivity of the substrate  22  prior to the depositing  14 . Additionally or alternatively, illustrative, non-exclusive examples of coated substrates  20  may have a surface (or sheet) resistivity that is less than or equal to 10 9 , 10 8 , 10 7 , 10 6 , 10 5 , 10 4 , 10 3 , 10 2 , 10, or 1 Ohms/square at 20 degrees Celsius. Other values and ranges of electrical resistivity of coated substrates  20  are within the scope of the present disclosure. 
     In some methods  10 , the depositing  14  and optional curing  16  result in subsets or regions of carbon nanotubes  30  that are substantially aligned longitudinally relative to each other, as schematically illustrated in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 3  also schematically illustrates carbon nanotubes  30  that are positioned at various distances relative to each other. It is within the scope of the present disclosure that the carbon nanotubes  30  are aligned uniformly or at least substantially uniformly; however, it also is within the scope of the present disclosure that the carbon nanotubes  30  are aligned substantially longitudinally, but otherwise are not evenly spaced relative to each other. Moreover, as schematically illustrated in  FIG. 3 , it is within the scope of the present disclosure, although not required, that some carbon nanotubes  30  may be in contact with each other or at least in close proximity to each other relative to other adjacent carbon nanotubes  30 . 
     By substantially aligned longitudinally relative to each other, it is not meant that the carbon nanotubes  30  are necessarily all parallel or substantially all parallel or that the carbon nanotubes  30  each define a straight axis. Rather, it is meant that the long, or longitudinal, axes of the carbon nanotubes  30  are generally aligned relative to each other, at least within a subset of carbon nanotubes  30 . As illustrative, non-exclusive examples, the longitudinal axes of at least 50, 60, 70, 80, or 90 percent of the carbon nanotubes  30  within a region of carbon nanotubes  30  may be within a threshold angle of 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, or 1 degrees relative to each other. Uniformity is not required, and as schematically illustrated in the right portion of  FIG. 3 , various carbon nanotubes  30  may be angled relative to adjacent carbon nanotubes  30  and still be considered to be substantially aligned longitudinally. 
     Additionally or alternatively, the depositing  14  may result in subsets or regions of carbon nanotubes  30  that are arranged in a zig-zag pattern. This is schematically illustrated in the middle portion of  FIG. 3 , schematically representing a single plane of carbon nanotubes  30  within a subset or region of carbon nanotubes  30 , with several individual carbon nanotubes  30  defining a zig-zag pattern, and with the several adjacent carbon nanotubes  30  collectively defining a zig-zag pattern. However, this zig-zag pattern may be repeated in three dimensions and is not limited to being present in a single plane of carbon nanotubes  30 . As illustrative, non-exclusive examples, the longitudinal axes of the carbon nanotubes  30  within a subset or region may generally angle back and forth within ranges of 90-180, 120-180, and/or 150-180 degrees relative to longitudinally adjacent portions of the longitudinal axes. Other patterns of carbon nanotubes  30  are within the scope of the present disclosure and also may result from the depositing  14  of a method  10 . 
     Additionally or alternatively, the depositing  14  of a method  10  may include aligning subsets or regions of carbon nanotubes  30  in a predetermined configuration relative to the substrate  22  to create a predetermined conductivity profile. As used herein, a “predetermined conductivity profile” refers to any desired and purposefully created configuration of carbon nanotubes  30  within a subset or region of carbon nanotubes  30 , such as to achieve a desired electrical effect on the coated substrate  20 . Predetermined conductivity profiles may be two dimensional in nature, such as corresponding to a single layer of coating  24 , or they may be three dimensional in nature, such as corresponding to more than one layer of coating  24 . The aforementioned longitudinally aligned and zig-zag patterns are examples of predetermined configurations; however, any desired and suitable configuration may result from the depositing  14  of a method  10 . As an illustrative, non-exclusive example, a predetermined conductivity profile may be configured to effectuate electrostatic dispersal by the coated substrate  20 . Additionally or alternatively, a predetermined conductivity profile may be configured to absorb and/or reduce reflection of radar, infrared, and/or sonar signals that are incident on the coated substrate  20 . Additionally or alternatively, a predetermined conductivity profile may be configured to disperse electric charges in a predetermined direction, to a predetermined ground or other location, in a substantially two dimensional direction, in three dimensions, and/or to define anisotropic conductivity of the coated substrate  20 . 
     The applying  12  and the depositing  14  of a method  10  may be performed using any suitable device. For example, an electrostatic sprayer (or spray gun) may be used to spray the coating material  26  on to the substrate  22 . In such examples, the applying  12  and the depositing  14  may be described as including spraying the coating material  26  from the electrostatic sprayer. 
     When used, any suitable type and configuration of electrostatic sprayer may be appropriate. For example, the electrostatic sprayer may utilize one or more of corona charging, contact charging, induction charging, frictional charging, direct charging, tribo charging, and/or post-atomization charging to charge the coating material  26 . Additionally or alternatively, the electrostatic sprayer may have an operating voltage of 50-150, 50-125, 50-100, 50-75, 75-150, 75-125, 75-100, 100-150, 100-125, or 125-150 kilovolts, an operating voltage of less than 50 kilovolts, or an operating voltage of greater than 150 kilovolts. Additionally or alternatively, the electrostatic sprayer may have a current output of 50-150, 50-125, 50-100, 50-75, 75-150, 75-125, 75-100, 100-150, 100-125, or 125-150 microamps, a current output of less than 50 microamps, or a current output of greater than 150 microamps. Additionally or alternatively, the electrostatic sprayer may spray at a rate of 500-1,500, 500-1,250, 500-1,000, 500-750, 750-1,500, 750-1,250, 750-1,000, 1,000-1,500, 1,000-1,250, or 1,250-1,500 milliliters per minute, at a rate less than 500 milliliters per minute, or at a rate greater than 1,500 milliliters per minute. 
     EXAMPLE 
     This example describes an illustrative, non-exclusive example of a utilization of a method  10  resulting in a coated substrate  20 . Specifically, a substrate  22  constructed of glass was sprayed with a coating material  26  utilizing an electrostatic sprayer. The glass was not grounded and was otherwise isolated from ground. The coating material  26  included  1 . 4  weight percent of carbon nanotubes  30 . The specific carbon nanotubes  30  used in the coating material  26  were Product Number 724769 from Sigma-Aldrich. According to Sigma-Aldrich, the carbon nanotubes  30  were multi-walled carbon nanotubes with between 3 and 6 walls each, the outer diameters of the carbon nanotubes  30  were in the range of 6-9 nanometers, and the lengths of the carbon nanotubes  30  were 5 micrometers. Moreover, according to Sigma-Aldrich, the mode of the outer diameters of the carbon nanotubes  30  was 5.5 nanometers and the median of the outer diameters of the carbon nanotubes  30  was 6.6 nanometers. The carrier  32  used in the coating material  26  included Aerodur® 3002 polyurethane topcoat from AkzoNobel Aerospace Coatings. 
     The electrostatic sprayer utilized was a Ransburg® Solo™ electrostatic sprayer, model number 79900. This model of electrostatic sprayer utilizes corona charging to electrically charge the coating material  26 , has an operating voltage of 85 kilovolts, has a current output of 130 microamperes max, and sprays at a rate of 1,000 milliliters per minute. 
       FIGS. 4-6  reproduce scanning electron microscope images at magnifications of 10,003×, 17,500×, and 40,000×, respectively, of portions of the coating  24  deposited in this example. As seen in these images, regions of the carbon nanotubes  30  were substantially aligned longitudinally in a zig-zag pattern. 
     As a control, the same coating material  26  that was deposited on the glass substrate  22  discussed above and illustrated in  FIGS. 4-6 , also was deposited utilizing the same electrostatic sprayer on a grounded aluminum substrate  22 .  FIG. 7  reproduces a scanning electron microscope image at a magnification of 25,000× of a portion of the coating  24  deposited on the grounded aluminum substrate  22 . As seen in this image, the carbon nanotubes  30  were randomly oriented and were not substantially aligned longitudinally, nor were they aligned in a zig-zag pattern. 
     Illustrative, non-exclusive and non-exhaustive examples of inventive subject matter according to the present disclosure are described in the following enumerated paragraphs: 
     A A method, comprising: 
     applying an electric charge to a coating material to create an electrically charged coating material, wherein the coating material includes carbon nanotubes and a carrier; and 
     depositing the electrically charged coating material to a substrate to create a coated substrate. 
     A1 The method of paragraph A, wherein the applying and the depositing includes spraying the coating material from an electrostatic sprayer. 
     A1.1 The method of paragraph A1, wherein the electrostatic sprayer utilizes one or more of corona charging, contact charging, induction charging, frictional charging, direct charging, tribo charging, and/or post-atomization charging to charge the coating material. 
     A1.2 The method of any of paragraphs A-A1.1, wherein the electrostatic sprayer has an operating voltage of 40-150, 40-125, 40-100, 40-85, 75-150, 75-125, 75-100, 100-150, 100-125, or 125-150 kilovolts, an operating voltage of less than 40 kilovolts, an operating voltage greater than 85 kilovolts, or an operating voltage of greater than 150 kilovolts. 
     A1.3 The method of any of paragraphs A1-A1.2, wherein the electrostatic sprayer has a current output of 50-150, 50-125, 50-100, 50-75, 75-150, 75-125, 75-100, 100-150, 100-125, or 125-150 microamps, a current output of less than  50  microamps, or a current output of greater than 150 microamps. 
     A1.4 The method of any of paragraphs A-A1.3, wherein the spraying is at a rate of 500-1,500, 500-1,250, 500-1,000, 500-750, 750-1,500, 750-1,250, 750-1,000, 1,000-1,500, 1,000-1,250, or 1,250-1,500 milliliters per minute, a rate less than 500 milliliters per minute, or a rate greater than 1,500 milliliters per minute. 
     A2 The method of any of paragraphs A-A1.4, wherein the substrate is non-conductive, is substantially non-conductive, is an insulator, is a conductor coated with an insulator, has an electrical (volume) resistivity of at least 10 9 , 10 12 , 10 14 , 10 16 , 10 18 , or 10 20  Ohm meters at 20 degrees Celsius, and/or has a surface (or sheet) resistivity of at least 10 9 , 10 12 , 10 14 , 10 16 , 10 18 , or 10 Ohms/square at 20 degrees Celsius. 
     A3 The method of any of paragraphs A-A2, wherein the substrate includes glass, a carbon fiber reinforced polymer, a polymer, a thermoplastic polymer, a polyester, a polyurethane, and/or a plastic. 
     A4 The method of any of paragraphs A-A3, wherein during the depositing, the substrate is not-grounded, is insulated from ground, is isolated from ground, and/or is isolated from electrically conductive material. 
     A5 The method of any of paragraphs A-A4, wherein during the depositing, the coating material is not electrically attracted to the substrate. 
     A6 The method of any of paragraphs A-A5, wherein the carbon nanotubes include single-walled carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, double-walled carbon nanotubes, triple-walled carbon nanotubes, nanobuds, graphenated carbon nanotubes, carbon peapods, cup-stacked carbon nanotubes, functionalized nanotubes, filled nanotubes, and/or metal particle decorated nanotubes. 
     A7 The method of any of paragraphs A-A6, wherein the carbon nanotubes have outer diameters in the range of 0-18, 0-15, 0-12, 0-9, 0-6, 0-3, 3-18, 3-15, 3-12, 3-9, 3-6, 6-18, 6-15, 6-12, 6-9, 9-18, 9-15, 9-12, 12-18, 12-15, and/or 15-18 nanometers, and/or of at least 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, or 18 nanometers. 
     A8 The method of any of paragraphs A-A7, wherein the carbon nanotubes have lengths of at least 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 50, or 100 micrometers. 
     A9 The method of any of paragraphs A-A8, wherein the carbon nanotubes include multi-walled carbon nanotubes with 2-10, 2-8, 2-6, 2-4, 4-10, 4-8, 4-6, 6-10, 6-8, and/or 8-10 walls and/or at least 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 10 walls. 
     A10 The method of any of paragraphs A-A9, wherein the carbon nanotubes have a length to outer diameter ratio of at least 500, 1,000, 5,000, 10,000, 50,000, 100,000, 500,000, or 1,000,000. 
     A11 The method of any of paragraphs A-A10, wherein the carbon nanotubes are 0.1-5, 0.5-5, 1-5, or 3-5 weight percent of the coating material, are at least 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 weight percent of the coating material, and/or are less than 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 weight percent of the coating material. 
     A12 The method of any of paragraphs A-A11, wherein the coated substrate has a surface (or sheet) resistivity that is less than or equal to 95, 90, 80, 70, 60, 50, 30, 20, 10, 1, 0.1, or 0.01 percent of a surface (or sheet) resistivity of the substrate prior to the depositing, and/or a volume resistivity that is less than or equal to 95, 90, 80, 70, 60, 50, 30, 20, 10, 1, 0.1, or 0.01 percent of a volume resistivity of the substrate prior to the depositing. 
     A12.1 The method of paragraph A12, wherein the coated substrate has a surface (or sheet) resistivity that is less than or equal to 10 9 , 10 8 , 10 7 , 10 6 , 10 5 , 10 4 , 10 3 , 10 2 , 10, or 1 Ohms/square at 20 degrees Celsius. 
     A13 The method of any of paragraphs A-A12.1, wherein the depositing results in subsets or regions of carbon nanotubes that are substantially aligned longitudinally or parallel relative to each other. 
     A13.1 The method of paragraph A13, wherein the depositing results in longitudinal axes of at least 50, 60, 70, 80, or 90 percent of the carbon nanotubes within a subset or region that are within a threshold angle of 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, or 1 degrees relative to each other. 
     A14 The method of any of paragraphs A-A13.1, wherein the depositing results in subsets or regions of carbon nanotubes that are arranged in a zig-zag pattern. 
     A14.1 The method of paragraph A14, wherein longitudinal axes of the carbon nanotubes within a subset or region angle back and forth within ranges of 90-180, 120-180, and/or or 150-180 degrees relative to longitudinally adjacent portions of the longitudinal axes. 
     A15 The method of any of paragraphs A-A14.1, wherein the depositing includes aligning subsets or regions of the carbon nanotubes in a substantially longitudinally aligned or parallel configuration. 
     A16 The method of any of paragraphs A-A15, wherein the depositing includes aligning subsets or regions of the carbon nanotubes in a zig-zag pattern. 
     A17 The method of any of paragraphs A-A16, wherein the depositing includes aligning subsets or regions of the carbon nanotubes in a predetermined configuration relative to the substrate to create a predetermined conductivity profile of the coated substrate. 
     A17.1 The method of paragraph A17, wherein the predetermined conductivity profile is configured to effectuate electrostatic dispersal by the coated substrate. 
     A17.2 The method of any of paragraphs A17-A17.1, wherein the predetermined conductivity profile is configured to absorb and/or reduce reflection of radar, infrared, and/or sonar signals that are incident on the coated substrate. 
     A17.3 The method of any of paragraphs A17-A17.2, wherein the predetermined conductivity profile is configured to disperse electric charges in a predetermined direction, to a predetermined ground or other location, in a substantially two dimensional direction, and/or to define anisotropic conductivity of the coated substrate. 
     A18 The method of any of paragraphs A-A17.3, wherein the coating material is opaque, transparent, substantially transparent, and/or semi-transparent after the depositing. 
     A19 The method of any of paragraphs A-A18, wherein the carrier includes vinyl-acrylic, vinyl acetate/ethylene, polyurethane, polyester, epoxy, lacquer, as well as pigment, binder, water or other suitable solvent, and/or metallic particles. 
     A20 The method of any of paragraphs A-A19, wherein the coating material is free of metallic particles. 
     A21 The method of any of paragraphs A-A20, wherein the substrate includes a portion of an aircraft, a spacecraft, a land vehicle, a marine vehicle, a wind turbine, or any apparatus fabricated from electrically resistive materials that may be susceptible to lightning strikes or any other types of electromagnetic effects. 
     A22 The method of any of paragraphs A-A21, wherein the depositing includes depositing the electrically charged coating to an external surface of an aircraft, a spacecraft, a land vehicle, a marine vehicle, a wind turbine, or any apparatus fabricated from electrically resistive materials that may be susceptible to lightning strikes or any other types of electromagnetic effects. 
     A23 The method of any of paragraphs A-A22, wherein the depositing includes painting the substrate. 
     B A coated substrate, comprising: 
     a substrate; and 
     a coating on the substrate, wherein the coating includes carbon nanotubes and a carrier. 
     B1 The coated substrate of paragraph B, wherein the substrate is non-conductive, is substantially non-conductive, is an insulator, has an electrical (volume) resistivity of at least 10 9 , 10 12 , 10 14 , 10 16 , 10 18 , or 10 20  Ohm meters at 20 degrees Celsius, and/or has a surface (or sheet) resistivity of at least 10 9 , 10 12 , 10 14 , 10 16 , 10 18 , or 10 20  Ohms/square at 20 degrees Celsius. 
     B2 The coated substrate of any of paragraphs B-B1, wherein the substrate includes glass, a reinforced or non-reinforced plastic having a thermoplastic and/or thermoset polymer. 
     B3 The coated substrate of any of paragraphs B-B2, wherein the carbon nanotubes include single-walled carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, double-walled carbon nanotubes, triple-walled carbon nanotubes, nanobuds, graphenated carbon nanotubes, carbon peapods, cup-stacked carbon nanotubes, functionalized nanotubes, filled nanotubes, and/or metal particle decorated nanotubes. 
     B4 The coated substrate of any of paragraphs B-B3, wherein the carbon nanotubes have outer diameters in the range of 0-18, 0-15, 0-12, 0-9, 0-6, 0-3, 3-18, 3-15, 3-12, 3-9, 3-6, 6-18, 6-15, 6-12, 6-9, 9-18, 9-15, 9-12, 12-18, 12-15, and/or 15-18 nanometers and/or of at least 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, or 18 nanometers. 
     B5 The coated substrate of any of paragraphs B-B4, wherein the carbon nanotubes have lengths of at least 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 50, or 100 micrometers. 
     B6 The coated substrate of any of paragraphs B-B5, wherein the carbon nanotubes include multi-walled carbon nanotubes with 2-10, 2-8, 2-6, 2-4, 4-10, 4-8, 4-6, 6-10, 6-8, and/or 8-10 walls and/or at least 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 10 walls. 
     B7 The coated substrate of any of paragraphs B-B6, wherein the carbon nanotubes have a length to outer diameter ratio of at least 500, 1,000, 5,000, 10,000, 50,000, 100,000, 500,000, or 1,000,000. 
     B8 The coated substrate of any of paragraphs B-B7, wherein the carbon nanotubes are 0.1-5, 0.5-5, 1-5, or 3-5 weight percent of the coating and/or are at least 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 weight percent of the coating, and/or are less than 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 weight percent of the coating. 
     B9 The coated substrate of any of paragraphs B-B8, wherein the coated substrate has a surface (or sheet) resistivity that is less than or equal to 95, 90, 80, 70, 60, 50, 30, 20, 10, 1, 0.1, or 0.01 percent of a surface (or sheet) resistivity of the substrate prior to the depositing, and/or an electrical (volume) resistivity that is less than or equal to 95, 90, 80, 70, 60, 50, 30, 20, 10, 1, 0.1, or 0.01 percent of an electrical (volume) resistivity of the substrate prior to the depositing. 
     B9.1 The coated substrate of paragraph B9, wherein the coated substrate has a surface (or sheet) resistivity that is less than or equal to 10 12 , 10 11 , 10 10 , 10 9 , 10 8 , 10 7 , 10 6 , 10 5 , 10 4 , 10 3 , 10 2 , 10, or 1 Ohms at 20 degrees Celsius. 
     B10 The coated substrate of any of paragraphs B-B9.1, wherein the coating includes subsets or regions of carbon nanotubes that are substantially aligned longitudinally or parallel relative to each other. 
     B10.1 The coated substrate of paragraph B10, wherein longitudinal axes of at least 50, 60, 70, 80, or 90 percent of the carbon nanotubes within a subsets or region are within a threshold angle of 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, or 1 degrees relative to each other. 
     B11 The coated substrate of any of paragraphs B-B10.1, wherein the coating includes subsets or regions of the carbon nanotubes arranged in a zig-zag pattern. 
     B11.1 The coated substrate of paragraph B11, wherein the longitudinal axes of the carbon nanotubes within a subset or region angle back and forth within ranges of 90-180, 120-180, and/or 150-180 degrees relative to longitudinally adjacent portions of the longitudinal axes. 
     B12 The coated substrate of any of paragraphs B-B11.1, wherein the carbon nanotubes define a conductivity profile of the coating. 
     B12.1 The coated substrate of paragraph B12, wherein the conductivity profile is configured to effectuate electrostatic dispersal by the coated substrate. 
     B12.2 The coated substrate of any of paragraphs B12-B12.1, wherein the conductivity profile is configured to absorb and/or reduce reflection of radar, infrared, and/or sonar signals that are incident on the coated substrate. 
     B12.3 The coated substrate of any of paragraphs B12-B12.2, wherein the conductivity profile is configured to disperse electric charges in a predetermined direction, to a predetermined ground or other location, in a substantially two dimensional direction, and/or to define anisotropic conductivity of the coated substrate. 
     B13 The coated substrate of any of paragraphs B-B12.3, wherein the coating is opaque, transparent, substantially transparent, and/or semi-transparent. 
     B14 The coated substrate of any of paragraphs B-B13, wherein the carrier includes vinyl-acrylic, vinyl acetate/ethylene, polyurethane, polyester, epoxy, and/or lacquer, as well as pigment, binder, water or other suitable solvent, and/or metallic particles. 
     B15 The coated substrate of any of paragraphs B-B14, wherein the coating is free of metallic particles. 
     B16 An aircraft, comprising: 
     the coated substrate of any of paragraphs B-B15, and optionally wherein the coated substrate defines a component of the aircraft, and optionally a surface of the aircraft, including an internal surface and/or an external surface of the aircraft. 
     B17 A spacecraft, comprising: 
     the coated substrate of any of paragraphs B-B15, and optionally wherein the coated substrate defines a component of the spacecraft, and optionally a surface of the spacecraft, including an internal surface and/or an external surface of the spacecraft. 
     B18 A land vehicle, comprising: 
     the coated substrate of any of paragraphs B-B15, and optionally wherein the coated substrate defines a component of the land vehicle, and optionally a surface of the land vehicle, including an internal surface and/or an external surface of the land vehicle. 
     B19 A marine vehicle, comprising: 
     the coated substrate of any of paragraphs B-B15, and optionally wherein the coated substrate defines a component of the marine vehicle, and optionally a surface of the marine vehicle, including an internal surface and/or an external surface of the marine vehicle. 
     B20 A wind turbine, comprising: 
     the coated substrate of any of paragraphs B-B15, and optionally wherein the coated substrate defines a component of the wind turbine, and optionally a surface of the wind turbine, including an internal surface and/or an external surface of the wind turbine. 
     B21 An apparatus, comprising: 
     the coated substrate of any of paragraphs B-B15, and optionally wherein the coated substrate defines a component of the apparatus, and optionally a surface of the apparatus, including an internal surface and/or an external surface of the apparatus, and further optionally wherein the apparatus is susceptible to lightning strikes or other types of electromagnetic effects. 
     B22 The coated substrate of any of paragraphs B-B15, wherein the coated substrate is formed utilizing the method of any of paragraphs A-A22. 
     As used herein, the terms “selective” and “selectively,” when modifying an action, movement, configuration, or other activity of one or more components or characteristics of an apparatus, mean that the specific action, movement, configuration, or other activity is a direct or indirect result of user manipulation of an aspect of, or one or more components of, the apparatus. 
     As used herein, the terms “adapted” and “configured” mean that the element, component, or other subject matter is designed and/or intended to perform a given function. Thus, the use of the terms “adapted” and “configured” should not be construed to mean that a given element, component, or other subject matter is simply “capable of” performing a given function but that the element, component, and/or other subject matter is specifically selected, created, implemented, utilized, programmed, and/or designed for the purpose of performing the function. It is also within the scope of the present disclosure that elements, components, and/or other recited subject matter that is recited as being adapted to perform a particular function may additionally or alternatively be described as being configured to perform that function, and vice versa. 
     The various disclosed elements of apparatuses and steps of methods disclosed herein are not required to all apparatuses and methods according to the present disclosure, and the present disclosure includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements and steps disclosed herein. Moreover, one or more of the various elements and steps disclosed herein may define independent inventive subject matter that is separate and apart from the whole of a disclosed apparatus or method. Accordingly, such inventive subject matter is not required to be associated with the specific apparatuses and methods that are expressly disclosed herein, and such inventive subject matter may find utility in apparatuses and/or methods that are not expressly disclosed herein.