Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for testing parts and materials in a controlled environment, especially an atomic oxygen environment. The apparatus includes a housing which has sample station located in its interior to receive a test sample. A contact element contacts a surface of the test sample, and a drive reciprocates the contact element so that the surface is subjected to wear along a wear path. At least one testing fluid is introduced and removed from the interior with the locations of introduction on removal preferably being such that the testing fluid flows across the test sample. The drive may be a carriage operated through the housing sidewall by a ferromagnetic coupling, and the sample station may be a turntable rotated by a ferromagnetic coupling. A second sample station may be included so that different wear path configurations are possible.

Abstract: This invention includes a method featuring steps having a transport (64, 68) to carry metal articles (10, 14) through a vacuum chamber (62, 66, 90) containing a plasma cleaning station (32) followed by exposure to an evaporant of metal (42) generated by an E-Beam (50) caused to condense on the articles in high vacuum. A channel structure (51) is provided to cause selective condensation upon the surface of said articles. The apparatus includes several stations (101, 102, 103) to provide multiple coatings on one or both sides of an article to be coated.