Abstract: A method of preparing a multi-layer assembly, or of protecting a surface of a multi-layer substrate from damage and/or contamination and/or debris, said method comprising the steps of: (i) providing a composite film comprising a polymeric base layer having a first and second surface and disposed on the first surface thereof a polymeric protective layer having a first surface and a second surface such that the first surface of the said base layer is in contact with the first surface of the polymeric protective layer, wherein said polymeric protective layer comprises an ethylene-based copolymer, and preferably wherein the polymeric base layer comprises a polyester derived from one or more diol(s) and one or more dicarboxylic acid(s); (ii) removing said polymeric protective layer from the first surface of said base layer; (iii) disposing on the exposed first surface of said base layer one or more functional layers to provide a multi-layer substrate, wherein the, or at least the uppermost, functional layer compri

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for coating a flexible substrate are provided. The flexible substrate is guided over a process roller. The flexible substrate has a first protective film, which is removed from the flexible substrate before the flexible substrate reaches a coating zone of a coating device located opposite the process roller. The first protective film is removed from the flexible substrate after the flexible substrate has formed a mechanical contact with the surface of the process roller. A second protective film is applied to the coated side of the flexible substrate after the flexible substrate has left the coating zone of the coating device and before the mechanical contact between the process roller and the flexible substrate is ended.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing a foil made of an electrically conductive material. The foil consists of the same electrically conductive material along the extension of the foil thickness. A flexible substrate is first introduced into a working chamber; a layer made of the electrically conductive material is deposited on at least one surface region of the flexible substrate using a vacuum coating process; and the first layer is then removed from the flexible substrate. Either an ion-etching process is carried out at least on the surface region of the flexible substrate prior to depositing the layer made of the electrically conductive material and/or the layer made of the electrically conductive material is heated during and/or after the layer is deposited.

Abstract: A method of preparing a multi-layer assembly, or of protecting a surface of a multi-layer substrate from damage and/or contamination and/or debris, said method comprising the steps of: (i) providing a composite film comprising a polymeric base layer having a first and second surface and disposed on the first surface thereof a polymeric protective layer having a first surface and a second surface such that the first surface of the said base layer is in contact with the first surface of the polymeric protective layer, wherein said polymeric protective layer comprises an ethylene-based copolymer, and preferably wherein the polymeric base layer comprises a polyester derived from one or more diol(s) and one or more dicarboxylic acid(s); (ii) removing said polymeric protective layer from the first surface of said base layer; (iii) disposing on the exposed first surface of said base layer one or more functional layers to provide a multi-layer substrate, wherein the, or at least the uppermost, functional layer compri

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for coating a flexible substrate are provided. The flexible substrate is guided over a process roller. The flexible substrate has a first protective film, which is removed from the flexible substrate before the flexible substrate reaches a coating zone of a coating device located opposite the process roller. The first protective film is removed from the flexible substrate after the flexible substrate has formed a mechanical contact with the surface of the process roller. A second protective film is applied to the coated side of the flexible substrate after the flexible substrate has left the coating zone of the coating device and before the mechanical contact between the process roller and the flexible substrate is ended.

Abstract: A method for depositing a graphene-based layer on a substrate by means of chemical vapor deposition is provided in which at least one hydrocarbon is introduced into a vacuum chamber as a starting material for a chemical reaction and, concurrently, a plasma is formed inside the vacuum chamber. In this case, at least one magnetron is used to generate the plasma, where the magnetron comprises at least one target of a material comprising at least one catalytically active metal selected from the group of chemical elements having the atomic numbers 21 to 30, 39 to 48, 57, 72 to 80 and 89; and where the sputtering of the target is set in such a way that the fraction of target particles, embedded in the graphene-based layer, is less than 1 at %.

Abstract: A plastic substrate having a porous layer is disclosed. In an embodiment, the porous layer is formed at least partially from a material of the plastic substrate and has pores. The proportion by volume of pores is greater in a first region of the porous layer than in a second region of the porous layer. The second region follows the first region, as seen proceeding from the plastic substrate. The porous layer can be produced by a plasma process that simultaneously effects structuring of the plastic substrate by ion bombardment and coating of the plastic substrate.

Abstract: Methods are provided for modifying a transparent and electrically conductive metal-oxide coating deposited on a plastic substrate. At least one surface region of the metal oxide coating is impinged by a pulse-driven electron beam. The impingement of the surface region of the metal oxide coating by the pulse-driven electron beam occurs inside a vacuum chamber into which hydrogen, argon, nitrogen, or oxygen, or a gas mixture of at least two of the above-mentioned gasses has been introduced.

Abstract: Methods are provided for modifying a transparent and electrically conductive metal-oxide coating deposited on a plastic substrate. At least one surface region of the metal oxide coating is impinged by a pulse-driven electron beam. The impingement of the surface region of the metal oxide coating by the pulse-driven electron beam occurs inside a vacuum chamber into which hydrogen, argon, nitrogen, or oxygen, or a gas mixture of at least two of the above-mentioned gasses has been introduced.

Abstract: A plastic substrate having a porous layer is disclosed. In an embodiment, the porous layer is formed at least partially from a material of the plastic substrate and has pores. The proportion by volume of pores is greater in a first region of the porous layer than in a second region of the porous layer. The second region follows the first region, as seen proceeding from the plastic substrate. The porous layer can be produced by a plasma process that simultaneously effects structuring of the plastic substrate by ion bombardment and coating of the plastic substrate.

Abstract: A plastic substrate has a porous layer on a surface. The porous layer is formed at least partially from a material of the plastic substrate and has pores. The proportion by volume of pores is greater in a first region of the porous layer than in a second region of the porous layer. The second region follows the first region, as seen proceeding from the plastic substrate. The porous layer can be produced by a plasma process that simultaneously effects structuring of the plastic substrate by ion bombardment and coating of the plastic substrate.

Abstract: A method for forming an electrically conductive structure on a plastic substrate is provided. An ink, which contains electrically conductive solid particles, is printed on the plastic substrate, where copper particles are used as electrically conductive solid particles. After the printing of the ink, only the surface regions of the plastic substrate on which the electrically conductive structure is to be formed are swept over within a vacuum chamber by means of an electron beam having a first energy per unit length, causing sintering of the copper particles.

Abstract: A method for depositing a LiPON coating on a substrate is provided, wherein the vaporization material, which is located in a vessel and which includes at least the chemical elements lithium, phosphorus and oxygen, is vaporized within a vacuum chamber. Here the vaporization material is heated by means of a thermal vaporization apparatus, and simultaneously either a nitrogen-containing component is introduced into the vacuum chamber or a nitrogen-containing material is co-vaporized, and wherein the vapor particle mist rising from the vessel is permeated by a plasma before the deposition on the substrate.

Abstract: A process is described for modification of a surface of a substrate by ion bombardment, in which the ions are produced by means of a magnetic field-assisted glow discharge in a process gas. The magnetic field-assisted glow discharge is produced by means of a magnetron having an electrode and at least one magnet for production of the magnetic field. The process gas has at least one electronegative constituent, such that negative ions are produced in the magnetic field-assisted glow discharge, and the negative ions which are produced at the surface of the electrode are accelerated in the direction of the substrate by an electrical voltage applied to the electrode.

Abstract: A transparent plastic film for screening electromagnetic waves includes a transparent film substrate and a layer system comprising at least one silver layer and two niobium oxide layers. The silver layer is embedded between the two niobium oxide layers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing an ultrabarrier layer system through vacuum coating a substrate with a layer stack that is embodied as an alternating layer system of smoothing layers and transparent ceramic layers, but comprising at least one smoothing layer between two transparent ceramic layers, which are applied by sputtering, in which during the deposition of the smoothing layer a monomer is admitted into an evacuated coating chamber in which a magnetron plasma is operated.

Abstract: A transparent barrier film, includes a transparent thermoplastic film and at least one permeation barrier film. The permeation barrier film includes a chemical compound of the elements zinc, tin and oxygen. A mass fraction of zinc is 5% to 70%. Furthermore, a method is disclosed for the production of a barrier film of this type.

Abstract: The invention relates to a layer system, comprising a substrate (1) on which firstly at least one barrier layer (2), followed by an intermediate layer (3) acting as an etch-stop layer and subsequently at least one electrically conductive layer (4) are deposited, and wherein the electrically conductive layer (4) is structured with wet-chemical etching media. The invention further relates to a method for the production and uses of a layer system of this type.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for the plasma-enhanced deposition of a layer on a substrate (12) by means of a chemical reaction inside a vacuum chamber (11), wherein at least one starting material of the chemical reaction is guided into the vacuum chamber (11) through an inlet (13), and wherein the inlet (13) is connected as an electrode of a gas discharge at least in the region of the inlet opening (18). A magnetron can also be used in the reactive sputtering method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transparent barrier layer system on a substrate, wherein the barrier layer system comprises a sequence of individual layers, wherein the individual layers are composed alternately of a layer A and a layer B and wherein a layer A differs from a layer B in terms of the activation energy in the permeation of water vapor with a difference of at least 1.5 kJ/mol.