Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a multi-cathode-PVD-coating system. According to the invention, one part of the cathodes operates after the high power impulse cathodic sputtering which is assisted by magnetic fields and the remainder operates after the direct current magnetic field assisted cathodic sputtering. The high power impulse cathodic sputtering which is assisted by magnetic fields is used as a source of multi-ionised metal ions during the ion-assisted in vacuo pre-treatment of substrates, whilst both types of cathodic sputtering are always used simultaneously during coating and whilst both types of cathodes are connected to different materials.

Abstract: A water soluble flux composition includes a vehicle portion of polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymers and their adducts of trimethylolpropane along with an activator portion of tetrakis hydroxyalkyl derivatives of alkalene diamines such as N,N,N',N'-tetrakis (2-hydroxypropyl) ethylenediamine and/or a long chain alkyldiethanolamine, such as polyoxyethylene soyamine.