Abstract: An electrode arrangement for the plasma-aided coating of a substrate (3) with a layer of material comprising at least one first and a second material component and for the production of a plasma discharge, more especially an arc discharge (35), having an anode arrangement (5), which provides the first material component at an anode material surface (13) for evaporation, and a cathode arrangement (7), which provides the second material component at a cathode material surface (25). The electrode arrangement is characterized in that the cathode material surface (25) is constituted by an evaporation-active part (27) supporting the plasma discharge (35) and an evaporation-inactive part (41) not supporting the plasma discharge. Preferably, a motion-producing means (49) is provided for moving the evaporation-inactive part (41) over the cathode material surface (25) in order to reduce deposit of material due to he first material component on the cathode material surface (25).

Abstract: The coated multilayer structure comprising a polymeric base layer, an inorganic oxide gas barrier layer on a surface of the polymeric base layer, and a top coat on the inorganic oxide gas barrier layer, the top coat comprising a soluble compound capable of reducing the permeability of the multilayer structure to gas or vapor. A method for enhancing the gas or vapor barrier properties of a multilayer polymeric/inorganic oxide structure is also disclosed. According to one embodiment, SiOx coated polyethylene terephthalate containers are coated with a gas or vapor barrier enhancing top coat.

Abstract: The coated multilayer structure comprising a polymeric base layer, an inorganic oxide gas barrier layer on a surface of the polymeric base layer, and a top coat on the inorganic oxide gas barrier layer, the top coat comprising a soluble compound capable of reducing the permeability of the multilayer structure to gas or vapor. A method for enhancing the gas or vapor barrier properties of a multilayer polymeric/inorganic oxide structure is also disclosed. According to one embodiment, SiOx coated polyethylene terephthalate containers are coated with a gas or vapor barrier enhancing top coat.

Abstract: The coated multilayer structure comprising a polymeric base layer, an inorganic oxide gas barrier layer on a surface of the polymeric base layer, and a top coat on the inorganic oxide gas barrier layer, the top coat comprising a soluble compound capable of reducing the permeability of the multilayer structure to gas or vapor. A method for enhancing the gas or vapor barrier properties of a multilayer polymeric/inorganic oxide structure is also disclosed. According to one embodiment, SiOx coated polyethylene terephthalate containers are coated with a gas or vapor barrier enhancing top coat.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the production on a substrate of gas- and liquid-impermeable layers, which have a relatively high elasticity. This elasticity is attained through the inclusion of carbon in a layer comprised of a metal or semiconductor oxide. In order to attain such an inclusion, a metal or semiconductor is ionized by means of an arc discharge. Subsequently, a reactive gas, for example O2, is introduced, with which the ionized metal or the ionized semiconductor forms an oxide. In addition, a carbon-containing gas is added, which releases its carbon such that on the substrate an oxide layer is formed, in which carbon is included.

Abstract: In a process for producing a brass-colored coating for fixtures, hardware, and articles in daily use, application of an intermediate layer to the substrate or to a base coating on the substrate is made by spraying, for which purpose a magnetron source with a zirconium target is situated in the process chamber in the proximity to the substrate and a mixture of argon and nitrogen serves as process gas, and the application of the top layer by spraying is done using a zirconium target in a mixture of argon and oxygen as process gas wherein the top layer is modified by bombardment with low-energy ions in a mixture of argon as carrier gas and a reactive gas, for example oxygen or hydrogen.