Abstract: The invention to which this application relates is for the formation of a coating onto a surface of an article and, in particular, although not necessarily exclusively, to form a coating which has conductive characteristics in order for the purpose of use of the article to be achieved. In one embodiment, the article base to which the coating is applied is a fuel cell or plate for a fuel cell. The coating includes at least one layer and an external layer applied thereto, said external layer provide as a discontinuous layer formed of discrete portions. The invention also relates to the method of application of a coating having the required characteristics.

Abstract: The invention to which this application relates is improvements to the provision of Molybdenum and/or Tungsten containing coatings of the type which can be used to improve certain characteristics of the surface of a substrate to which the coating is applied. In one embodiment the coating also includes Ti to provide the advantages of high adhesion, high humidity and wear resistance of the coating and TiB2 to promote the formation of a relatively uniform, dense, coating, so strengthening the coating which is formed and improving the high temperature performance of the coatings.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for creation and maintenance of a closed field system in which magnetrons and/or magnet assemblies are provided in a form to create a magnetic field around an area in which a substrate to be coated is located. The method also relates to the steps of cleaning the substrates and applying an adhesive layer prior to the material which is to form the coating.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for the application of a thin film coating of material onto a surface of an article which is to be exposed to aqueous conditions such as when in the sea or rivers. The invention allows for the formation of a coating which is resistant to fouling and which coating can be formed of materials which have significantly less adverse effect on the quality of the water in which the article is placed in comparison to conventional coating types.

Abstract: The invention is directed toward a method and apparatus which can be used to allow the sputter deposition of material onto at least one article to form a coating on the same. The new form of magnetron described herein allows an increase in sputter deposition rates to be achieved at higher powers and without causing damage to the coating being created. This can be achieved by improved cooling and use of a relatively high magnetic field in the magnetron while at the same time increasing the power to the magnetron by increasing the current at a rate faster than the voltage.

Abstract: A coating and a method of forming the same on a substrate is provided. The coating is provided with at least one ceramic material layer and at least one metal material layer. At least one of the materials used is a shape memory alloy so as to provide elasticity in the coating so as to allow any deformation of the same to be substantially recovered.

Abstract: Articles are disclosed which bear a carbon coating layer, wherein carbon-carbon bonding within the coating layer is mostly of the sp2 form: wherein the coating has a specific wear rate under wet conditions of less than 10−6 m3/Nm: wherein the coating has an adhesion critical load of at least 70N: wherein the coating has a hardness of at least 1000 VHN: wherein the coating has a coefficient of friction (dry) of not more than 01. The coating may be a multi-layer coating containing successive metal-containing and carbon layers. The article may be constituted as a medical prosthesis. Methods are disclosed of forming hard wear resistant carbon coatings by sputter ion plating with at least one carbon target in which an ion current density of for example above 0.

Abstract: An unbalanced magnetron sputter ion plating system has a first magnetron with a first target of metal sulphide (e.g. MoS2) and a second magnetron with a second target of metal (e.g. Titanium). In order to recover water and sulphur impurities from the surfaces of the coating chamber the metal target is energised in a pre-coating ion cleaning operation. The Titanium target remains energised during the deposition of the molybdenum-sulphur coating to produce a MoxTiySz coating where x+y≈1 and Z≈2. Best results are achieved if the Titanium content is about 18% or less by weight of the total coating content.