Abstract: An electrical or electronic device comprising a polymeric coating, formed by exposing;the device to pulsed plasma comprising a compound of formula (I), where R1, R2, R3 and R4 are as defined in the specification, for a sufficient period of time to allow a polymeric layer to form on the surface of the electrical or electronic device. Devices of this type are protected from contamination by liquids, in particular environmental liquids.

Abstract: An electrical or electronic device comprising a polymeric coating, formed by exposing the device to pulsed plasma comprising a compound of formula (I), where R1, R2, R3 and R4 are as defined in the specification, for a sufficient period of time to allow a polymeric layer to form on the surface of the electrical or electronic device. Devices of this type are protected from contamination by liquids, in particular environmental liquids.

Abstract: The invention relates to the application of a coating to a substrate in which the coating includes a polymer material and the coating is selectively fluorinated and/or cured to improve the liquid repellance of the same. The invention also provides for the selective fluorination and/or curing of selected areas of the coating thus, when completed, providing a coating which has regions of improved liquid repellance with respect to the remaining regions and which remaining regions may be utilized as liquid collection areas.

Abstract: A method for protecting an item from weight gain due to uptake of liquid comprising the step of exposing the item to plasma in a gaseous state for a sufficient period of time to allow a protective layer, particularly a polymeric layer, to be created on the surface of the item. Also encompassed is an item of footwear treated by the method.

Abstract: A method for forming a liquid repellent surface on a substrate, said method comprising applying a combination of nanoparticles and a polymeric material to the surface in a chamber using ionisation or activation technology, in particular plasma processing.

Abstract: A method of treating wool in the form of a fibre, yarn, sliver, fabric or garment. A polymer coating is applied by plasma polymerisation to prevent shrinkage due to felting due to laundering. The method may include a pre-treatment step, for example application of a continuous plasma of inert gas, application of nano particles to the fibre surface or coating the fibre surface with a polymer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus (10) for vacuum processing articles (12). The apparatus comprises a processing region (14) in which articles can be vacuum processed at a processing pressure and a loading region (18) into which articles can be loaded into the apparatus at ambient pressure. A plurality of article carriers (20) are provided for carrying articles from the loading region to the processing region along an enclosed passage (24) so that articles can be vacuum processed. The carriers (20) comprise respective sealing means (26) for sealing against an inner surface of the passage when carrying articles along the passage. The sealing means (26) resist the flow of gas or vapour past the sealing means along the passage from the loading region to the processing region so that articles loaded at ambient pressure in the loading region and carried to the processing region can be vacuum processed at processing pressure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for the formation of a coating on a substrate. The coating is formed by the deposition of a coating forming material onto the substrate in an atomised form via a nozzle, nebulizer or the like. The material is applied and directed to pass through an exciting medium such as a plasma. The exciting medium is generated and formed in a pulsed manner. The coating forming material passes onto the substrate which can be positioned within the exciting medium or externally of the same.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for applying and forming a coating on a substrate surface by the application of at least one atomized coating forming material onto the substrate to form the coating. The atomized coating forming material, upon leaving a suitable atomizer which can be an ultrasonic nozzle or nebulizer for example, passes through an exciting medium and, upon leaving the exciting medium, passes to the substrate. The substrate is positioned remotely from the exciting medium.

Abstract: A laboratory consumable having a polymeric coating formed by exposing said consumable to pulsed plasma for a sufficient period of time to allow a polymeric layer to form on the surface of the laboratory consumable, said plasma comprising a compound of formula (I) where R1, R2, R3 and R4 are as defined in the specification. Consumables of this type show significantly reduced liquid sample retention, maximum sample recovery and ultra non-binding properties, as well as oil and water-repellency.

Abstract: A computerized information display system extracts text data, lists of keywords, story rankings in order of story importance, and image maps identifying the location of stories from an input of publication files from a publisher. The system can generate a simultaneous display of a page image in which a story appears side-by-side with the text for the story when a particular story is selected, in order to allow a viewer can read the text while referring to the page image for visual cues about the text passage. The viewer can select a story from a displayed list of stories ranked in order of importance relative to other stories appearing on a page. The story rankings are derived based upon comparing one or more story importance indicators: location of the story on the page; size of type font of a headline associated with the story; size of type font associated with the story text; and size of text content for the story.