Abstract: A protective layer having at least one hard-material layer is provided. The hard-material layer is formed from one or more of the following materials metal oxide, metal nitride, metal carbide, metal oxynitride, metal carbonitride, and metal oxycarbonitride. The hard-material layer has laterally closely cohesive, crystalline columns which grow perpendicular to the surface of the body. In some embodiments, the crystalline columns have a lateral dimension which is on average less than 1 ?m, preferably less than 200 nm, and which predominantly has crystal orientations which, in the case of columnar growth, have little tendency to widen out, the surface roughness of the hard-material layer having an Ra value of less than 50 nm, preferably less than 20 nm.

Abstract: A transparent, colorless glass or glass-ceramic panel has a visually dense, high-temperature-stable coating having an organic/inorganic network structure containing filling material particles and a color-imparting pigment. The mechanically stable, visually dense coating has no melt-reaction zone at the surface of the panel, which is coated with the coating, so that it does not impair the panel strength. The inorganic network structure can be made from a SiO2-based sol. The coating is made by introducing the color-imparting pigment and the filling material particles into a reactive organic/inorganic network structure; applying the resulting organic/inorganic network structure containing the pigment and the filling material particles to the panel to coat the panel and then burning-in the organic/inorganic network structure with the pigment and the filling material particles under thermal conditions to form the coating with no melt-reaction zone.

Abstract: A method for producing optical functional coatings comprising niobium, tantalum, titanium or aluminum by supplying a precursor gas of low vapor pressure in a CVD coating system. A precursor selected from the group consisting of Nb, Ta, Ti, and Al compounds having a vapor pressure is maintained within a first supply container at a first temperature T1 and a first pressure p1. Precursor vapor of the precursor is supplied from the first supply container to an intermediate storage device through a first gas line which fluidly communicates the first supply container and the intermediate storage device. A carrier gas or reaction gas is supplied to the first gas line such that a mixture of the precursor with the carrier gas or the reaction gas is provided.

Abstract: A process for applying alternating layers by chemical vapor deposition comprises the process steps of depositing an adhesion-promoter layer on a substrate and applying a barrier layer. Alternating layers comprising organic and inorganic materials are deposited alternately, and in this process the coating time for application of the adhesion-promoter layer is between 0.05 s and 4.0 s and the coating time for application of the inorganic barrier layer is between 0.1 s and 6.0 s. A composite material is also produced using the process.

Abstract: A transparent, colorless glass or glass-ceramic panel has a visually dense, high-temperature-stable coating having an organic/inorganic network structure containing filling material particles and a color-imparting pigment. The mechanically stable, visually dense coating has no melt-reaction zone at the surface of the panel, which is coated with the coating, so that it does not impair the panel strength. The inorganic network structure can be made from a SiO2-based sol. The coating is made by introducing the color-imparting pigment and the filling material particles into a reactive organic/inorganic network structure; applying the resulting organic/inorganic network structure containing the pigment and the filling material particles to the panel to coat the panel and then burning-in the organic/inorganic network structure with the pigment and the filling material particles under thermal conditions to form the coating with no melt-reaction zone.

Abstract: A scratchproof, temperature-stable protective layer, in particular a scratch-resistant protective layer for cooking hobs is provided. In addition, processes and an apparatus for producing these protective layers are provided. The protective layer includes at least one hard-material layer having a functional layer interrupted by very thin interlayers so that the functional layer has a morphologically dense columnar structure that grows substantially perpendicular to the body surface. The production of layers of this type is achieved by a magnetron sputtering process and a corresponding arrangement, with the tendency of the columnar structures to widen out being reduced by targeted interruption of the growth of the functional layers.

Abstract: A cooking system based on the principle of heat conduction and having a one-piece cooking surface made of a glass-ceramic material. The cooking surface has a cooking area which can be directly heated in an individual manner by heating elements placed on the underside of the glass-ceramic plate. The glass-ceramic plate has main crystal phases, high quartz mixed crystal or keatite mixed crystal, primarily formed from constituents LiO2—Al2O3—SiO2, with a coefficient of expansion of ?=0 to 1.5×10?6/K, preferably ?=0 to 1×10?6/K, and with a thermal conductivity of <3 W/mK, preferably of <2.7 W/m K. The glass-ceramic plate also has at least one cooking area situated on an underside of the plate. In addition, the heating elements of the cooking areas are of metallic layers, and a porous ceramic layer is placed between the underside of the glass-ceramic plate and the heating elements while serving as an electrical insulation layer.

Abstract: The cleaning-friendly article, such as a household kitchen appliance, which is suitable for heating food and/or directly connected with this unit, has a suitable long-lasting or permanent easily cleaned coating on its surfaces that are accessible to dirt. In order to provide this easily cleaned coating a mixture is applied to these surfaces, which contains a hydrolyzable, network-forming gel and a hydrophobic substance. The gel is preferably formed from metal oxides. such as SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, In2O3, SnO2, ZrO2, B2O3 and/or TiO2. The hydrophobic substance is preferably chemically combined with the gel network. The hydrophobic substance preferably includes pre-condensed fluoroalkyl-silanes.

Abstract: A gas supply device for delivering precursors with a low vapor pressure to CVD coating systems. The gas supply device has a supply container for the precursor which is at a first temperature T1, an intermediate storage device for intermediately storing the vaporous precursor at a second temperature T2 and at a constant pressure p2, a first gas line between the supply container and the intermediate storage device and a second gas line for removing gas from the intermediate storage device. The gas supply device is developed in such a way that the first temperature T1 is higher than the second temperature T2. The lower temperature T2 of the intermediate storage device facilitates maintenance work on the same, while the precursor evaporates at a greater rate at the higher temperature T1 in the supply container. A first precursor vapor may be mixed with a gas and/or a second precursor vapor in the intermediate storage device.

Abstract: A transparent, colorless glass or glass-ceramic panel has a visually dense, high-temperature-stable coating having an organic/inorganic network structure containing filling material particles and a color-imparting pigment. The mechanically stable, visually dense coating has no melt-reaction zone at the surface of the panel, which is coated with the coating, so that it does not impair the panel strength. The inorganic network structure can be made from a SiO2-based sol. The coating is made by introducing the color-imparting pigment and the filling material particles into a reactive organic/inorganic network structure; applying the resulting organic/inorganic network structure containing the pigment and the filling material particles to the panel to coat the panel and then burning-in the organic/inorganic network structure with the pigment and the filling material particles under thermal conditions to form the coating with no melt-reaction zone.

Abstract: The invention describes a process for applying alternating layers by chemical vapor deposition which comprises the process steps of depositing an adhesion-promoter layer on a substrate and of applying a barrier layer, alternating layers comprising organic and inorganic materials being deposited alternately, in which process the coating time for application of the adhesion-promoter layer is between 0.05 s and 4.0 s and the coating time for application of the inorganic barrier layer is between 0.1 s and 6.0 s, and also a composite material produced using the process.

Abstract: Many applications, in particular in the domestic sector, require bodies which have a protective layer with a high scratch resistance and thermal stability. One typical example is glass-ceramic cooking surfaces of modern cooking hobs. The invention provides a corresponding protective layer which comprises at least one hard-material layer formed from a metal oxide and/or metal nitride and/or metal carbide and/or metal oxynitride and/or metal carbonitride and/or metal oxycarbonitride which has laterally closely cohesive, crystalline columns which grow perpendicular to the surface of the body and the lateral dimension of which is on average less than 1 ?m, preferably less than 200 nm, and which predominantly has crystal orientations which, in the case of columnar growth, have little tendency to widen out, the surface roughness of the hard-material layer having an Ra value of less than 50 nm, preferably less than 20 nm.

Abstract: A composite material having a substrate material and at least one barrier coating on one side of the substrate material. The barrier coating is plasma impulse chemical vapor deposited (PICVD) to the substrate material. The barrier coating includes at least one of material selected from the group consisting of SiOx, TiOx, SnOx, Si3Ny, Nb2Oy, and Al2Oy.

Abstract: The cleaning-friendly article, such as a household kitchen appliance, which is suitable for heating food and/or directly connected with this unit, has a suitable long-lasting or permanent easily cleaned coating on its surfaces that are accessible to dirt. In order to provide this easily cleaned coating a mixture is applied to these surfaces, which contains a hydrolyzable, network-forming gel and a hydrophobic substance. The gel is preferably formed from SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, In2O3, SnO2, ZrO2, B2O3 and/or TiO2. The hydrophobic substance is preferably chemically combined with the gel network.

Abstract: The cleaning-friendly apparatus, such as a household kitchen appliance, which is suitable for heating food and/or in direct connection with these units, has a suitable long-lasting or permanent easily cleaned coating on its surfaces that are accessible to dirt. In order to provide this easily cleaned coating a mixture is applied to these surfaces, which contains a hydrolyzable, network-forming gel and a hydrophobic substance. The gel is preferably formed from SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, In2O3, SnO2, ZrO2, B2O3 and/or TiO2. The hydrophobic substance is preferably chemically combined with the gel network.

Abstract: The invention relates to coating a plastic substrate for producing a coated body, to a device for carrying out such a method, and to the use thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gas supply device for delivering precursors with a low vapor pressure to CVD coating systems. Said gas supply device has a supply container for the precursor which is at a first temperature T1, an intermediate storage device for intermediately storing the vaporous precursor at a second temperature T2 and at a constant pressure p2, a first gas line between the supply container and the intermediate storage device and a second gas line for removing gas from the intermediate storage device. According to the invention, the gas supply device is developed in such a way that the first temperature T1 is higher than the second temperature T2. The lower temperature T2 of the intermediate storage device facilitates maintenance work on the same, while the precursor evaporates at a greater rate at the higher temperature T1 in the supply container.