Abstract: In order to ignite a vaporizing arc on a target which includes at least at its surface a material of a high melting point to be vaporized, and to stabilize and guide same, an electron beam gun or a laser is forseen for generating of a local vapor cloud or a premelted spot on the surface of the target in order to therewith ignite and guide the arc spot.

Abstract: Coated highly wear-resistant tools have an Me.sup.1.sub.1-x (.alpha..sub.2 Me.sup.2 * .alpha..sub.3 Me.sup.3 * . . . .alpha..sub.n Me.sup.n).sub.x N.sub.u C.sub.v O.sub.w coating, wherein Me.sup.1 is a metal of the chemical group IVb of the periodic system, and Me.sup.2, Me.sup.3, . . . , Me.sup.n are other metals. The values u+v+w=1 and the Me concentration changes at least once continuously over the layer thickness to .alpha..sub.2 Me.sup.2 * .alpha..sub.3 Me.sup.3, . . . .alpha..sub.n Me.sup.n. The value for x is preferably between 0.1 and 0.7, the values for v and/or w can be approximately zero or w<0.3, and the further metal Me.sup.2, Me.sup.3, . . . , Me.sup.n is another metal of the chemical group IVb of the periodic system and/or vanadium and/or preferably aluminum. In working tasks with the tools according to the invention as compared to known tools, a significantly increased service life is obtained.

Abstract: An arrangement for holding and cooling bearing shell blanks (2) positioned one next to the other during a coating process in a vacuum chamber, has cooling body and work piece holding pairs (3) which are detachable from each other and which are connected to one another via a cooling surface (9) and a heat transmission surface (7). A work piece holding part (5) of the cooling body and the work piece holding pair (3) is implemented so that the bearing shell blanks (2) are placed in a concave bearing surface (32) of the holding part during the coating process and are kept, over their entire surface, at a temperature determined by the cooling surface temperature. A temperature gradient can be formed if teflon foil strips are placed on the bearing surface. These allow only a direct heat contact of the apex of the bearing shell blanks (2) with the bearing surface.

Abstract: For coating workpieces having basic bodies (3), with a ceramic, electrically non-conducting material, during the coating process a pulsating dc voltage is applied to the basic bodies (3) or their holders (36). Preferably the pulse height is changed during vaporization used for the coating process, from high negative values to smaller negative values. A further layer can be applied onto the workpieces coated in this way whereby these work-pieces, due to their excellent corrosion resistance, are suited as pieces of jewelry which can be exposed in particular to ocean water and body perspiration, as rolling bodies in which the use of oil or grease as corrosion protection can be dispensed with, and as separating and cutting tools for organic materials.

Abstract: A workpiece surface is provided with a layer which is applied by a sputter-CVD process. An optimum hardness and sliding quality of the layer is obtained at a positive bias of the workpiece surface relative to the plasma. For tungsten carbide/carbon layer, an optimum layer quality is attainable at a bias of thirty-five volts. Besides tungsten carbide/carbon layers, also silicide/silicon layers can be produced if volatile silicon compounds are used as the reactive gas.

Abstract: For some applications of slide layers, for example in connecting rod bearings of internal combustion engines, for individual sites of a formed piece, high load bearing capability are required while for other places of the same formed piece good embedding abilities are demanded. A composite material with a slide layer applied by cathode sputtering of a tightly cohesive matrix and an insoluble component distributed statistically in it, is adapted to these opposite demands in that the diameter of the particle of the insolutble material has gradients at predetermined sites, which extend parallel to the surface of the slide layer, and to which slide layer hardness gradients correspond. These gradients are generated during the cathode sputtering process in the substrate to be coated to form a growing slide layer having temperature gradients which are maintained and which extend parallel to the substrate surface.

Abstract: Machine elements formed which overcome the problems associated with rolling bearings or rolling drive units, which, apart from load under rolling are simultaneously exposed to frictional load, which leads in particular zones to frictional wear. In order to keep this to a minimum the invention teaches to apply on the effected surfaces of such structural parts a coating of a friction bearing material, which, however, according to the findings of the invention must be applied with the PVD method and must have a thickness of the order of magnitude of the surface roughness of the base body; known thicker friction bearing coatings are not suitable. The invention is especially for forming gear wheels, rolling bearings, shafts, compressor screws, and rolling pistons.

Abstract: Sliding layers overlays produced by cathode sputtering comprise a matrix-forming metallic material and at least one other material which is substantially insoluble in the matrix have greatly improved mechanical and corrosion resistance properties, if the insoluble material has a lower melting point than the matrix material, and if the diameters of the particles of the insoluble material are statistically normally distributed with mean x<0.8 .mu.m. Such overlays are produced with the temperature of the substrate maintained below 150.degree. C. during the sputtering process. Coating rates of >0.2 .mu.m [of layer thickness] per minute may be used informing such overlays.

Abstract: For some applications of slide layers, for example in connecting rod bearings of internal combustion engines, for individual sites of a formed piece, high load bearing capability are required while for other places of the same formed piece good embedding abilities are demanded. A composite material with a slide layer applied by cathode sputtering of a tightly cohesive matrix and an insoluble component distributed statistically in it, is adapted to these opposite demands in that the diameter of the particle of the insoluble material has gradients at predetermined sites, which extend parallel to the surface of the slide layer, and to which slide layer hardness gradients correspond. These gradients are generated during the cathode sputtering process in the substrate to be coated to form a growing slide layer having temperature gradients which are maintained and which extend parallel to the substrate surface.

Abstract: In order to obtain coatings of greater density and compactness than were possible until now when coating substrates with magnetic field-supported cathode sputtering, a given fraction of metal vapor obtained by vaporization of an electric arc discharge from the anode or cathode is deposited on the functional areas of the substrates together with the sputtered material and, specifically, at least 5 atom percent of the total metal fraction of the coating to be deposited averaged over time is applied by vaporization of an electric arc discharge. A suitable vacuum coating installation for carrying out the method has within a vacuum chamber, a device for vaporizing a part of the coating-forming material with an electric arc discharge and an additional device for magnetic field-supported sputtering of another part of the coating-forming material.

Abstract: A method for the thermochemical surface treatment of workpieces in a reactive gas plasma is disclosed in which an appreciable reduction in the amount of reactive gas and energy used is achieved by working at gas pressures below 10 pascals (Pa). Particularly advantageous results are achieved with a low-voltage electrical arc discharge, which leads to an ionization of the gases used (about 50%) that is substantially higher than that, which is achieved with the methods described in the art 6 (approximately 1%). Surfaces, treated by such a conduct of the reaction, are distinguished by an increased hardness and better wear properties. The method of the invention moreover allows more numerous variation possibilities than do the methods described in the art and enables the conduct of the method to be adapted in a flexible manner to the specific requirements of the particular case.

Abstract: Conventional black coatings for objects of common use usually formed as a carbon layer or porous metal layers, have a deficient wear resistance and surface quality. The resistant high gloss black coatings according to the invention comprise oxycarbonitrides, the proportion of carbon. Preferably the layer comprises an oxycarbonitride of an alloy of Ti, Zr and Hf, the oxygen component between 40 and 60 atom percent. Use of the invention is mainly for decorative utility objects, e.g. watch cases.

Abstract: In the previously used methods for the deposition of layers on surfaces by means of chemical reactions with gases, which are introduced into the reaction room or chamber (chemical vapor deposition, CVD), electrical glow discharge and mainly high-frequency discharges were used for the activation of the reactants. According to the invention, the maintaining of a low-voltage arc discharge in the reaction room during the coating is recommended. The surprising result of this is a considerably stronger activation and ionization and a more uniform coating also on surfaces of complex shape.

Abstract: An article comprising a substrate having a hard and corrosion-proof coating thereon. The coating includes a thin metallic layer having an ultrafine distribution of hard materials and a particular compact morphology.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process of deposition of a coating of a gold compound on a solid substrate. In a vacuum chamber (1), the substrate is fixed on a first substrate electrode (2). A composite target (5) essentially consists of gold and at least one of the metal compounds, such as nitride, carbide and boride of the metals of group IV b of the periodic classification of elements and tantalum. A high-purity argon atmosphere at pressure ranging between 4.times.10.sup.-4 and 3.times.10.sup.-2 Torr is then established in the chamber. The deposition of the coating is then carried out by ionic deposition or evaporation in vapor phase at a given rate. The invention may find application to coat articles of jewelry or of watch cases.

Abstract: A metal chalcogenide coating, in particular of molybdenum sulphide, is deposited on a substrate by high speed cathode sputtering. This coating is turbostratic and has an unusually high resistance to wear produced by frictional forces.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for manufacturing electrodes for fuel cells operating at elevated temperatures, said process consisting in depositing by cathodic sputtering on a solid electrolyte substrate active mixtures of oxides and metals. The control of the relative rates of deposition of the various constituents of these active compositions is achieved by regulating individually independent magnetic fields acting on each of the components subjected to sputtering. A very high degree of homogeneity within the layers and of reproducibility of the compositions of the mixtures is achieved in this manner.