Abstract: A sliding component, particularly a disk valve plate. The sliding component includes a multi-layer surface structure comprising a strengthening layer harder than the substrate material, and an amorphous diamond top layer.

Abstract: An article is coated with a multi-layer coating comprising a nickel layer, a refractory metal layer, a sandwich layer comprised of a plurality of alternating layers of a refractory metal compound and a refractory metal Layer, and a refractory metal compound layer. The coating provides a decorative appearance to the article and also provides abrasion protection, corrosion protection, and improved chemical resistance.

Abstract: An article is coated with a multi-layer coating comprising a polymeric layer; a chromium compound, preferably chromium nitride layer; a sandwich layer comprised of a plurality of alternating layers comprised of refractory metal compound or refractory metal alloy compound alternating with layers comprised of refractory metal or refractory metal alloy; a color layer comprised of chromium, metal compound or metal alloy compound; and (i) a metal oxide or metal alloy oxide layer or (ii) a layer comprised of the reaction products of metal or metal alloy, oxygen and nitrogen. The coating provides abrasion protection, corrosion protection, and improved chemical resistance.

Abstract: An article having on at least a portion of its surface a multi-layer coating comprising (i) a polymeric base coat, a chrome adhesion promoting layer, a chromium compound layer, and a layer comprised of a metal compound or metal alloy compound; or (ii) a polymeric base coat, a chromium compound layer, and a layer comprised of a metal compound or metal alloy compound. The layers comprised of chrome, chromium compound and metal compound or metal alloy compound are deposited by vapor deposition, preferably physical vapor deposition.

Abstract: An article is coated with a multi-layer coating comprising a nickel layer, a refractory metal layer, and a refractory metal compound layer. The coating is decorative and also provides abrasion protection and corrosion protection.

Abstract: A linear magnetron cathode is disclosed which may be used as a vapor or plasma source for coating deposition or ion processing. The cathode has the shape of an elongated rectangular bar with vaporization of material occurring from an evaporable surface wrapping around the periphery of the bar, along two opposite sides and around both ends. A magnetic field is established over the entire evaporable surface which has a component parallel to the surface and perpendicular to the long direction of the cathode, forming a closed-loop magnetic tunnel around the periphery which directs an arc plasma discharge. Side shields adjacent to sand projecting outward from the sides of the evaporable surface block a significant fraction of the macroparticles ejected from reaching the substrate region. The invention provides uniform cathode erosion and a vaporized material stream in two directions over an extended length, permitting uniform deposition or implantation over large areas.

Abstract: An article is coated with a multi-layer coating comprising a nickel layer, a chrome layer, a refractory metal layer, preferably zirconium layer, a sandwich layer comprised of a plurality of alternating layers of a refractory metal compound and a refractory metal compound layer, preferably zirconium nitride layer, and a refractory metal oxide layer or a layer comprised of the reaction products of refractory metal, oxygen and nitrogen. The coating provides the color of polished brass to the article and also provides abrasion protection, corrosion protection, and improved acid resistance.

Abstract: Improved razors and razor blades and processes for producing razor blades or similar cutting tools with sharp and durable cutting edges, by hard-carbon coating of blades with amorphous diamond, preferably using a filtered cathodic arc plasma source. A coating of amorphous diamond having at least 40 percent sp3 carbon bonding, a hardness of at least 45 gigapascals and a modulus of at least 400 gigapascals is applied to the sharpened edge of a substrate. The substrate may be mechanically honed, and there is no interlayer between the substrate and the amorphous diamond coating. The coating imparts stiffness and rigidity to a thin blade while maintaining a high aspect ratio.

Abstract: An article is coated with a multi-layer coating comprising a nickel layer, a chrome layer, a refractory metal layer, a refractory metal compound layer, and a refractory metal oxide layer or a layer comprised of the reaction products of refractory metal, oxygen and nitrogen. The coating is decorative and also provides abrasion protection, corrosion protection, and improved chemical resistance.

Abstract: An article is coated with a multi-layer coating comprising a nickel layer, a refractory metal or refractory metal alloy layer, a refractory metal compound or refractory metal alloy compound layer, and a refractory metal oxide or refractory metal alloy oxide layer or a layer comprised of the reaction products of refractory metal or refractory metal alloy, oxygen and nitrogen. The coating is decorative and also provides abrasion protection, corrosion protection, and improved chemical resistance.

Abstract: An article, particularly a brass article, is coated with a multi-layer coating comprising a semi-bright nickel layer deposited on the surface of the article, a bright nickel layer deposited on the semi-bright nickel layer, a nickel-tungsten-boron layer deposited on the bright nickel layer, a chrome layer deposited on the nickel-tungsten-boron layer, a layer comprised of a non-precious refractory metal deposited on the chrome layer, a sandwich layer comprised of alternating layers of non-precious refractory metal compound, preferably zirconium nitride, and non-precious refractory metal, preferably zirconium, deposited on the non-precious refractory metal layer, a non-precious refractory metal compound such as zirconium nitride deposited on the sandwich layer, and a layer comprised of a non-precious refractory metal oxide or the reaction products of a non-precious refractory metal, oxygen and nitrogen deposited on the non-precious refractory metal compound layer.

Abstract: An article is coated with a multi-layer coating comprising a nickel layer, a refractory metal layer, preferably zirconium layer, a sandwich layer comprised of a plurality of alternating layers of a refractory metal compound and a refractory metal, a refractory metal compound layer on the sandwich layer, and a refractory metal oxide layer or a layer comprised of the reaction products of refractory metal, oxygen and nitrogen. The coating provides the color of polished brass to the article and also provides abrasion protection, corrosion protection, and improved acid resistance.

Abstract: An article is coated with a multi-layer coating comprising a nickel layer deposited on the surface of the article, a nickel-tungsten-boron layer deposited on the nickel layer, a refractory metal, preferably zirconium layer deposited on the nickel-tungsten-boron layer, a sandwich layer comprised of alternating layers of a refractory metal and of a refractory metal compound deposited on the refractory metal layer, a refractory metal compound layer, preferably zirconium nitride, deposited on the sandwich layer, and a layer comprised of a refractory metal oxide or the reaction products of a refractory metal, oxygen and nitrogen deposited on the refractory metal compound layer.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for generating oppositely directed streams of plasma for the purpose of depositing a coating or performing ion processing. The plasma comprises ionized vapor of a cathode material, generated by vacuum arc evaporation from a linear magnetron cathode. The plasma is diverted by a deflection electrode to a substrate region, while the macroscopic droplets of cathode material also generated by the arc are intercepted and prevented from reaching the substrate. Magnetic means are disclosed for controlling the arc motion on the cathode surface while simultaneously deflecting and guiding the plasma. The source may be extended indefinitely in length, permitting coating or ion processing of large substrates.

Abstract: Improved razors and razor blades and processes for producing razor blades or similar cutting tools with sharp and durable cutting edges, by hard-carbon coating of blades with amorphous diamond, preferably using a filtered cathodic arc plasma source. A coating of amorphous diamond having at least 40 percent sp3 carbon bonding, a hardness of at least 45 gigapascals and a modulus of at least 400 gigapascals is applied to the sharpened edge of a substrate. The substrate may be mechanically honed, and there is no interlayer between the substrate and the amorphous diamond coating. The coating imparts stiffness and rigidity to a thin blade while maintaining a high aspect ratio.

Abstract: An article is coated with a multi-layer coating comprising a nickel layer, a tin-nickel alloy layer, a non-precious refractory metal layer, a sandwich layer comprised of a plurality of alternating layers of non-precious refractory metal compound and of a non-precious refractory metal, a non-precious refractory metal compound layer, and a layer comprised of a non-precious refractory metal oxide or the reaction products of a non-precious refractory metal, oxygen and nitrogen.

Abstract: An article is coated with a multi-layer coating comprising at least one nickel layer deposited on the surface of the article, a palladium/nickel alloy layer deposited on the nickel layer, a refractory metal, preferably zirconium, layer deposited on the palladium/nickel alloy layer, a sandwich layer comprised of alternating layers of refractory metal compound and refractory metal deposited on the refractory metal layer, a refractory metal compound layer, preferably zirconium nitride, deposited on the sandwich layer, and a layer comprised of a refractory metal oxide or the reaction products of a refractory metal, oxygen and nitrogen deposited on the refractory metal compound layer. The coating provides the color of polished brass to the article and also provides abrasion and corrosion protection.

Abstract: An article is coated with a multi-layer coating comprising a nickel layer deposited on the surface of the article, a palladium layer deposited on the nickel layer, a palladium-nickel alloy layer deposited on the palladium layer, a non-precious refractory metal such as zirconium layer deposited on the palladium-nickel alloy layer, a sandwich layer comprised of alternating layers of a non-precious refractory metal compound such as zirconium nitride and a refractory metal such as zirconium deposited on the non-precious refractory metal layer, a non-precious refractory metal compound such as zirconium nitride layer deposited on the sandwich layer, and a layer comprised of a non-precious refractory metal oxide or the reaction products of a non-precious refractory metal such as zirconium, oxygen, and nitrogen deposited on the non-precious refractory metal compound layer.

Abstract: An article is coated with a multi-layer coating comprising a copper layer, a nickel layer, a chrome layer, a refractory metal layer, preferably zirconium layer, a sandwich layer comprised of alternating layers of a refractory metal compound and a refractory metal, a refractory metal compound layer, preferably zirconium nitride layer, and a refractory metal oxide layer or a layer comprised of the reaction products of refractory metal, oxygen and nitrogen. The coating provides the color of polished brass to the article and also provides abrasion protection, corrosion protection, and improved acid resistance.

Abstract: Improved razors and razor blades and processes for producing razor blades or similar cutting tools with sharp and durable cutting edges, by hard-carbon coating of blades with amorphous diamond, preferably using a filtered cathodic arc plasma source. A coating of amorphous diamond having at least 40 percent sp3 carbon bonding, a hardness of at least 45 gigapascals and a modulus of at least 400 gigapascals is applied to the sharpened edge of a substrate. The substrate may be mechanically honed, and there is no interlayer between the substrate and the amorphous diamond coating. The coating imparts stiffness and rigidity to a thin blade while maintaining a high aspect ratio.