Abstract: To improve a biodegradable plastic substrate by applying a coating, the invention provides a process for producing a composite material in which a biodegradable plastic substrate is provided, which is coated on at least one surface with at least one barrier layer, the barrier layer being deposited by chemical vapor deposition.

Abstract: The invention envisages a light-generating apparatus that provides effective cooling of the reflector, the apparatus comprising a reflector and a device for improving the dissipation of heat from the reflector.

Abstract: In order to produce an improved coupling between waveguides of different refractive indexes, provision is made of a connecting device for connecting at least two optical waveguides (5, 6), in the case of which a first optical waveguide (5) is held relative to a second optical waveguide (6), an end face (7, 71, 72) of the first waveguide (5) running obliquely to the optical axis (11) of the first waveguide (5), and an end face (8, 81, 82) of the second waveguide (6) running obliquely to the optical axis of the second waveguide (6). In this case, the refractive index of at least one light-guiding region of the first optical waveguide (5) differs from the refractive index of a light-guiding region of the second optical waveguide (6), and the optical axes of the first and the second optical waveguides (5, 6) are arranged substantially parallel to one another.