Abstract: A method of coating a contact lens comprising the steps of forming an initiator layer on the surface of the contact lens by plasma deposition of at least one initiator monomer and polymerising a propagation monomer onto the initiator layer to form a coating layer of a polymeric material on the contact lens and a method of coating a medical device comprising the steps of forming an initiator polymer layer on at least a part of the medical device by plasma deposition of at least one initiator monomer and polymerising at least one zwitterionic monomer onto the initiator layer to form a coating layer of a polymeric material on the medical device.

Abstract: The invention relates to the provision of an article and a method of forming an article with a surface which can have at least one sub-layer and a top layer of material. At least one part of the top layer is selectively removed to expose at least one sub-layer and/or the surface of the substrate and allow the functionality of the sub-layer and/or surface to be utilised in the area(s) where it is exposed. The top layer, where it remains, acts as a barrier to the sub-layer and/or surface being exposed to the surrounding environment. Typically parts of the top layer are removed in a patterned manner to provide a series of predefined areas at which the sub-layer or sub-layers are selectively exposed.

Abstract: The invention is directed toward the use of an atomizer to inject a coating material typically in the form of a liquid/solid particulate slurry into a sub-atmospheric pressure plasma to generate a high flux of excited coating forming material that permits the rapid deposition of a composite coating onto a substrate. The use of plasma discharges at reduced pressures results in the more efficient consumption of process precursors and gases, a reduced risk of explosion compared to atmospheric pressure processes and facilitates the removal of volatile components from the deposited composite coatings prior to their use.

Abstract: A method is provided for applying a coating containing reactive nitrogen functionality contained within an aromatic heterocyclic structure to a substrate. The method includes subjecting said substrate to a plasma discharge of a monomer possessing said heterocyclic nitrogen functionality.

Abstract: A method for forming a coating on a substrate using an atmospheric pressure plasma discharge. The method comprises introducing an atomized liquid and/or solid coating-forming material into an atmospheric pressure plasma discharge and/or an ionized gas stream resulting therefrom, and exposing the substrate to the atomized coating-forming material. The application also described a method for polymerizing a polymer forming material, and further to apparatus for forming a coating on a substrate.

Abstract: A method of coating a surface of a low surface energy substrate by exposing the substrate to a silicon containing compound in liquid or gaseous form selected from a chlorine terminated polydimethylsiloxane, direct process residue, ZxSiR54−x, SinY2n+2 or a mixture thereof, where each Z is a chloro or alkoxy group and each R5 is an alkyl group or substituted alkyl group, x is 1 to 4, n is from 2 to 10 and each Y may be selected from a chloro, fluoro, alkoxy or alkyl group but at least two Y groups must be chloro, or alkoxy groups or a mixture thereof and forming a grafted coating layer on the substrate surface and subsequently post-treating the grafted coating layer by oxidation or, reduction, which is preferably utilising a plasma or corona treatment, in particular atmospheric pressure glow discharge or dielectric barrier discharge.

Abstract: A method of forming a coating on a substrate surface which coating comprises SiOx groups by plasma treatment of the surface, wherein the substrate comprises a blend of an organic polymeric material and an organosilicon-containing additive which is substantially non-miscible with the organic polymeric material. The organic polymeric material preferably comprises a poly-olefin, and the organosilicon-containing additive preferably comprises polydimethylsiloxane, &agr;,&ohgr;-dihydroxypolydimethylsiloxane, &agr;,&ohgr;-divinylpolydimethylsiloxane, or a copolymer of polydimethylsiloxane and polyethylene. The plasma treatment may comprise oxygen-containing gas plasma treatment, and the substrate is preferably heated and the plasma pulsed during plasma treatment. The method can enhance the surface barrier, antioxidant and/or the adhesive properties of the substrate.

Abstract: A method for metallising solid substrates involves the use of non-equilibrium plasma treatment of a supported metal precursor layer. This technique can be used to make pure metal or alloy coatings. An oxidising plasma pre-treatment step of the supported metal precursor layer, or the incorporation of a plasma polymer coupling layer prior to metallisation, can result in improved adhesion. The method can be applied to the preparation of lithographic printing plate precursors.

Abstract: Microporous polytetrafluoroethylene is metallised with 1 micron platinum, which is plasma-oxygenated then plasma-hydrogenated, whereby to increase the surface area of the platinum. The resulting composite body has applications as a catalyst or electrode.