Abstract: Apparatus for treating the surface of objects with plasma, having: an enclosure; a means for placing this enclosure under vacuum; a zone for storing objects to be treated, which is called the upstream storing zone; a zone for storing treated objects, which is called the downstream storing zone; at least two plasma treatment chambers having a means for injecting an active gas mixture, a means for creating an electrical discharge and a means for confining the plasma to the volume inside the chamber; and a means for transferring between the storing zones and the chambers, characterized in that the transferring means are conveying means defining a conveying direction, and in that the various chambers are placed one behind the other, in the conveying direction, and in that the atmospheres of the various plasma treatment chambers are not hermetically sealed off from one another.

Abstract: A facility having a main space under vacuum, at least one device for transferring objects between a zone at atmospheric pressure and a zone under vacuum, a device (30) for unstacking/stacking objects, a device for conveying objects and support elements (24, 25) for supporting each object, these being secured to the conveying device. Each transfer device has a frame and a transfer member, provided with at least one cell (C1-C4) that accepts at least one object that is to be transferred. The frame defines a first opening in communication with the zone at atmospheric pressure, a second opening in communication with the zone under vacuum, and an intermediate region intended to be placed either under vacuum or at atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: Apparatus for treating the surface of objects with plasma, having: an enclosure; a means for placing this enclosure under vacuum; a zone for storing objects to be treated, which is called the upstream storing zone; a zone for storing treated objects, which is called the downstream storing zone; at least two plasma treatment chambers having a means for injecting an active gas mixture, a means for creating an electrical discharge and a means for confining the plasma to the volume inside the chamber; and a means for transferring between the storing zones and the chambers, characterized in that the transferring means are conveying means defining a conveying direction, and in that the various chambers are placed one behind the other, in the conveying direction, and in that the atmospheres of the various plasma treatment chambers are not hermetically sealed off from one another.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of polyolefin containers. One aspect of the invention is a polyolefin container coated with a gas barrier coating. In particular, the present invention relates to a polyolefin container coated with a gas barrier coating comprising a first layer of hydrogenated amorphous silicon nitride and a second layer of hydrogenated amorphous carbon. The hydrogenated amorphous silicon nitride layer may be deposited on the container, and the hydrogenated amorphous carbon layer may be deposited on the hydrogenated amorphous silicon nitride layer. A further aspect of the invention is a process for coating a polyolefin container comprising the steps of depositing a layer of hydrogenated amorphous silicon nitride on a polyolefin container by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition and depositing a layer of hydrogenated amorphous carbon on the hydrogenated amorphous silicon nitride layer by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition.