Abstract: Method to increase the wettability of a substrate by providing the substrate at least partially with a conductive, metal free, hydrophilic carbon based coating. The carbon based coating is doped with nitrogen and has an electrical resistivity lower than 108 ohm-cm. An adhesion promoting layer is applied on the substrate before the application of the carbon based coating. The adhesion promoting layer includes at least one element of the group consisting of silicon and of the elements of group IVB, the elements of group VB and the elements of Group VIB of the periodic table, wherein the carbon based coating includes a nitrogen doped diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating of amorphous hydrogenated carbon (a-C:H) and a nitrogen doped diamond-like nanocomposite (DLN) coating comprising C, H, O and Si.

Abstract: A cable bolt for providing support and balance to a rock mass, comprising: a multi-strand cable having a plurality of steel wires being twisted together, said multi-strand cable having a first end portion for anchoring in a borehole of rock mass and a second end portion for being positioned adjacent to the opening of the borehole, a fixture secured to the second end portion of said multi-strand cable, wherein at least one of the plurality of steel wires is made from steel having as steel composition: a carbon content ranging from 0.20 weight percent to 0.95 weight percent, a silicon content ranging from 0.5 weight percent to 2.0 weight percent, a manganese content ranging from 0.40 weight percent to 1.0 weight percent, a chromium content ranging from 0.0 weight percent to 1.0 weight percent, a sulphur and phosphor content being limited to 0.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for coating a flexible substrate with at least a first organic layer and a first inorganic layer. The apparatus comprises a first and a second chamber and an atmosphere decoupling slot between the first and the second chamber. A printing facility is arranged in the first chamber, for printing the flexible substrate with a mixture comprising at least one precursor for a polymer, oligomer or a polymer network and a polymerization initiator. A curing facility is arranged in the first chamber, for curing the deposited mixture, therewith forming the at least first organic layer. A vapor deposition facility is arranged in the second chamber, for depositing the at least first inorganic layer at the substrate provided with the at least first organic layer. The apparatus comprises a facility for guiding the flexible substrate along the printing facility, along the curing facility and via the atmosphere decoupling slot along the vapor deposition facility.

Abstract: A coating apparatus is revealed that is designed to coat substrates by means of a physical vacuum deposition process or a chemical vacuum deposition process or a combination thereof. Said coating apparatus is particular in that it uses a rotatable magnetron (14) that is coverable with an axially moveable shutter (18). Such an arrangement enables to keep the magnetron target clean or to clean the target in between or even during subsequent coating steps. The shutter further provides for a controllable gas atmosphere in the vicinity of the target. The arrangement wherein the magnetron is centrally placed is described. Substrates are then exposed to the sputtering source from all angles by hanging them on a planetary carousel (24) that turns around the magnetron.

Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly of a porous metallic gas diffusion substrate and a polymeric separator membrane for use in an alkaline electrolyser or alkaline fuel cell. The polymeric separator membrane of the assembly comprises inorganic hydrophilic particulates dispersed in an organic polymeric binder. The polymeric separator membrane is gas tight when filled with electrolyte. The polymeric separator membrane is penetrating into at least a top portion of the porous metallic gas diffusion substrate. Also disclosed is a method to produce such an assembly via coating a paste on a porous metallic gas diffusion substrate.

Abstract: An electro-optic device may include a substrate that supports a first and a second electrode, a functional structure including at least one functional layer that is electrically coupled to the electrodes, and an etched metal structure electrically coupled to at least one of the electrodes.

Abstract: An electronic device comprises a functional stack (10) and a cover (50) coupled thereto by an insulating adhesive layer (30). The functional stack (10) comprises a first transparent and electrically conductive layer (22), a second electrically conductive layer (24) and a functional structure (26), comprising at least one layer, sandwiched between said first and second conductive layer. The cover (50) includes a substrate (52) and at least a first conductive structure (66, 68) that is arranged in a first plane between the adhesive layer (28) and the substrate (52). First and second transverse electrical conductors (32, 34) transverse to the first plane (61) electrically interconnect the first and the second electrically conductive layer (22, 24) with the first and the second conductive structure (66, 68) in the first plane (61).

Abstract: An electric transport component may include a substrate provided with a barrier structure with a first inorganic layer, an organic decoupling layer and a second inorganic layer, wherein the organic decoupling layer is sandwiched between the first and the second inorganic layer, and at least one electrically conductive structure distributed in a plane defined by the organic decoupling layer, and that is accommodated in at least one trench in the organic decoupling layer. A method of manufacturing an electric transport component may include the steps of providing a first inorganic layer, providing a first organic decoupling layer, forming at least one trench in the organic decoupling layer, depositing an electrically conductive material in the at least one trench, and providing a second inorganic layer. The component may be applied for example in opto-electrical and electro-optical devices.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for coating a flexible substrate with at least a first organic layer and a first inorganic layer. The apparatus comprises a first and a second chamber and an atmosphere decoupling slot between the first and the second chamber. A printing facility is arranged in the first chamber, for printing the flexible substrate with a mixture comprising at least one precursor for a polymer, oligomer or a polymer network and a polymerization initiator. A curing facility is arranged in the first chamber, for curing the deposited mixture, therewith forming the at least first organic layer. A vapor deposition facility is arranged in the second chamber, for depositing the at least first inorganic layer at the substrate provided with the at least first organic layer. The apparatus comprises a facility for guiding the flexible substrate along the printing facility, along the curing facility and via the atmosphere decoupling slot along the vapor deposition facility.

Abstract: A coating apparatus (100) for batch coating of substrates is presented. In the batch coater layers of a stack can be deposited by means of physical vapor deposition, by means of chemical vapor deposition or by a mixture of both processes. When compared to previous apparatus, the mixed mode process is particularly stable. This is achieved by using a rotatable magnetron (112) rather than the prior-art planar magnetrons. The apparatus is further equipped with a rotatable shutter that allows for concurrent or alternating process steps.

Abstract: An electro-optic device (501) is provided comprising a substrate (570) that supports a first and a second electrode (515, 536), a functional structure (530) comprising at least one functional layer (532, 534), that is electrically coupled to the electrodes, an etched metal structure (512) being electrically coupled to at least one of the electrodes (515).

Abstract: An electronic device comprises a functional stack (10) and a cover (50) coupled thereto by an insulating adhesive layer (30). The functional stack (10) comprises a first transparent and electrically conductive layer (22), a second electrically conductive layer (24) and a functional structure (26), comprising at least one layer, sandwiched between said first and second conductive layer. The cover (50) includes a substrate (52) and at least a first conductive structure (66, 68) that is arranged in a first plane between the adhesive layer (28) and the substrate (52). First and second transverse electrical conductors (32, 34) transverse to the first plane (61) electrically interconnect the first and the second electrically conductive layer (22, 24) with the first and the second conductive structure (66, 68) in the first plane (61).

Abstract: An electric transport component (10; 110; 310; 60) comprises a substrate (20; 120) provided with a barrier structure with a first inorganic layer (16; 116; 66), an organic decoupling layer (12; 112; 62) and a second inorganic layer (18; 118; 68), wherein the organic decoupling layer is sandwiched between the first and the second inorganic layer, and at least one electrically conductive structure (14; 114; 314; 414; 414-1, 414-2; 514; 614-1, 614-2; 64) distributed in a plane defined by the organic decoupling layer, and that is accommodated in at least one trench (13; 113) in the organic decoupling layer. A method of manufacturing an electric transport component comprises the steps of a) providing a first inorganic layer b) providing a first organic decoupling layer, c) forming at least one trench in the organic decoupling layer, d) depositing an electrically conductive material in the at least one trench, e) providing a second inorganic layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a metal substrate coated at least partially with a layered structure. The layered structure comprises an intermediate layer deposited on the metal substrate and an amorphous carbon layer deposited on the intermediate layer. The amorphous carbon layer has a Young's modulus lower than 200 GPa. The intermediate layer comprises a tetrahedral carbon layer having a Young's modulus higher than 200 GPa. The invention further relates to a method to reduce the wear on a counterbody of a metal substrate coated with a tetrahedral carbon coating.

Abstract: The invention relates to a substrate covered at least partially with a layered coating. The layered coating comprises an intermediate coating and a hard carbon coating. The intermediate coating comprises a first metal layer deposited on the substrate, the first metal layer comprising at least one element of group IVB, group VB or group VIB; a nitride layer deposited on the first metal layer, the nitride layer comprising at least one nitride of an element of group IVB, group VB or group VIB; a second metal layer deposited on the nitride layer, the second metal layer comprising at least one element of group IVB, group VB or group VIB; a transition layer deposited on the second metal layer, the transition layer comprising at least one carbide of an element of group IVB, group VB or group VIB.

Abstract: The invention relates to a metal substrate (11) coated at least partially with a layered structure. The layered structure comprises an intermediate layer (14) deposited on said substrate (11) and a tetrahedral carbon layer (16) deposited on said intermediate layer. The intermediate layer comprises at least one amorphous carbon layer having a Young's modulus lower than 200 GPa and the tetrahedral carbon layer has a Young's modulus higher than 200 GPa. The invention further relates to a method to improve the adhesion of a tetrahedral carbon layer to a substrate and to a method to bridge the gap in Young's modulus of the metal substrate and the Young's modulus of a tetrahedral carbon coating deposited on said metal substrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a metal substrate (11) coated at least partially with a layered structure. The layered structure comprises an intermediate layer (14) deposited on said substrate (11) and a tetrahedral carbon layer (16) deposited on said intermediate layer. The intermediate layer comprises at least one amorphous carbon layer having a Young's modulus lower than 200 GPa and the tetrahedral carbon layer has a Young's modulus higher than 200 GPa. The invention further relates to a method to improve the adhesion of a tetrahedral carbon layer to a substrate and to a method to bridge the gap in Young's modulus of the metal substrate and the Young's modulus of a tetrahedral carbon coating deposited on said metal substrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method to increase the wettability of a substrate by providing said substrate at least partially with a conductive, metal free, hydrophilic carbon based coating. The carbon based coating is doped with nitrogen and has an electrical resistivity lower than 108 ohm-cm. The invention further relates to a substrate coated at least partially with a conductive metal free, hydrophilic carbon based coating.

Abstract: A coating apparatus (100) for batch coating of substrates is presented. In the batch coater layers of a stack can be deposited by means of physical vapour deposition, by means of chemical vapour deposition or by a mixture of both processes. When compared to previous apparatus, the mixed mode process is particularly stable. This is achieved by using a rotatable magnetron (112) rather than the prior-art planar magnetrons. The apparatus is further equipped with a rotatable shutter that allows for concurrent or alternating process steps.

Abstract: A coating apparatus is revealed that is designed to coat substrates by means of a physical vacuum deposition process or a chemical vacuum deposition process or a combination thereof. Said coating apparatus is particular in that it uses a rotatable magnetron (14) that is coverable with an axially moveable shutter (18). Such an arrangement enables to keep the magnetron target clean or to clean the target in between or even during subsequent coating steps. The shutter further provides for a controllable gas atmosphere in the vicinity of the target. The arrangement wherein the magnetron is centrally placed is described. Substrates are then exposed to the sputtering source from all angles by hanging them on a planetary carousel (24) that turns around the magnetron.