Abstract: The invention relates to a sealing element to be applied when feeding at least one elongated object through a vacuum apparatus, the sealing element comprising a casing with a first detachable part having a projection on its underside that tapers from a first end of the casing to a second end of the casing and a second detachable part having a hollow portion that tapers from the first end of the casing to the second end. The projection fits in and partially fills the hollow portion creating a gap between the projection and the hollow portion. The second detachable part has a groove around a portion of its perimeter on an upper surface which contains a resilient sealing means that allows the first and second detachable parts to be sealed when abutted against one another.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for continuously cleaning a long metal substrate, such as a wire, a band, a cord, etc., the long substrate to be cleaned being led through a vacuum chamber, whereinto an inert sputtering gas, such as argon, is fed, and a sufficiently high voltage being maintained between the substrate as cathode and an anode present in the chamber so that an electric discharge takes place between the two electrode, as a result of which the substrate is cleaned by inert gas ions bombarding it during its passage through the vacuum chamber, and the anode being formed by at least one annular electrode, fitted in a long casing of heat-radiation transmitting material and the long substrate being led through the casing in longitudinal direction. The invention further relates to the thus cleaned metal substrates, as well as to the objects of polymer material reinforced therewith.