Abstract: Plasma deposition apparatus (1) and method that allows metal or nonmetal vapor (6) to be generated by electron-beam evaporation, guides that vapor using a noble gas stream (containing reactive gases in cases of reactive evaporation), ionizes the dense directed gas and vapor stream at working pressures above about 0.0001 mbar using a hollow cathode plasma arc discharge (11), and conveys the ionized vapor and/or gas stream towards the substrate (4) for impact on the surface at energies varying from thermal levels (as low as about 0.05 eV) up to about 300 eV.

Abstract: Plasma deposition apparatus (1) and method that allows metal or nonmetal vapor (6) to be generated by electron-beam evaporation, guides that vapor using a noble gas stream (containing reactive gases in cases of reactive evaporation), ionizes the dense directed gas and vapor stream at working pressures above about 0.0001 mbar using a hollow cathode plasma arc discharge (11), and conveys the ionized vapor and/or gas stream towards the substrate (4) for impact on the surface at energies varying from thermal levels (as low as about 0.05 eV) up to about 300 eV.

Abstract: The present invention describes a coated cutting tool for metal machining. The coating is formed by one or more layers of refractory compounds of which at least one layer of fine-grained, crystalline &ggr;-phase alumina, Al2O3, with a grainsize less than 0.1 &mgr;m. The Al2O3 layer is deposited with a bipolar pulsed DMS technique (Dual Magnetron Sputtering) at substrate temperatures in the range 450° C. to 700° C. preferably 550° C. to 650° C., depending on the particular material of the tool body to be coated. Identification of the &ggr;-phase alumina is made by X-ray diffraction. Reflexes from the (400) and (440) planes occurring at the 2&thgr;0- angles 45.8 and 66.8 degrees when using CuK&agr; radiation identify the &ggr;-phase Al2O3. The alumina layer is also very strongly textured in the [440]-direction. The Al2O3 layer is virtually free of cracks and halogen impurities. Furthermore, the Al2O3 layer gives the cutting edge of the tool an extremely smooth surface finish.

Abstract: Process and device for coating substrates utilizing bipolar pulsed magnetron sputtering in the frequency range between 10 and 100 kHz, wherein the device includes at least three magnetron sources. Each of the at least three magnetron sources includes a target. At least two of the targets are connected to a potential-free bipolar power supply device. The at least three targets are arranged relative to the substrates in such a way that the substrates are located at least partially inside a discharge current during a coating of the substrates. A switching device is adapted to connect the targets to the bipolar power supply device. A technological predetermined program is used for controlling the switching device. The switching device connects at least two of the targets at a time to the bipolar power supply device according to the technologically predetermined program.

Abstract: The present invention describes a coating cutting tool for metal machining and a process for producing such tools. The coating is composed of one or more layers of refractory compounds of which at least one layer consists of nanocrystalline aluminum spinel of the type (Me)xAl2O3+x where Me is a second metal and 0<x≦1, deposited by Physical Vapor Deposition.

Abstract: The present invention describes a coated cutting tool for metal maching. The coating is formed by one or more layers of refractory compounds of which at least one layer of fine-grained, crystalline &ggr;-phase alumina, Al2O3, with a grainsize less than 0.1 &mgr;m. The Al2O3 layer is deposited with a bipolar pulsed DMS technique (Dual Magnetron Sputtering) at substrate temperatures in the range 450° C. to 700 C.° preferably 550 C.° to 650 C.°, depending on the particular material of the tool body to be coated. Identification of the &ggr;-phase alumina is made by X-ray diffraction. Reflexes from the (400) and (440) planes occurring at the 2&thgr;-angles 45.8 and 66.8 degrees when using CuK&agr; radiation identify the &ggr;-phase Al2O3. The alumina layer is also very strongly textured in the [440]-direction. The Al2O3 layer is virtually free of cracks and halogen impurities. Furthermore, the Al2O3 layer gives the cutting edge of the tool an extremely smooth surface finish.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a coated cutting tool consisting of a coating and a substrate, wherein at least one refractory layer consisting of fine-grained, crystalline &ggr;-Al2O3 is deposited by reactive magnetron sputtering onto the moving substrate in a vacuum by pulsed magnetron sputtering in a mixture of a rare gas and a reactive gas at a pulse frequency set for 10 to 100 kHz. The deposition occurs with a rate of at least 1 nm/s with reference to a stationarily arranged substrate at a magnetron target power density in time average set for at least 10 W/cm2. The substrate temperature is in the range 400 to 700° C. and the flux of impinging particles onto each individual substrate is cyclically interrupted.

Abstract: Existing devices for vacuum coating substrates having different shapes, either in continuous or hatch facilities, are equipped in such a way that several coatings are applied after a coating process. The slide bearings are to be coated with several coats and the coating materials used and the conditions related thereto require the use of several coating techniques. This relates inter alia to conveyance parameters. Existing facilities fail to meet these requirements. According to the invention, such a device comprises several aligned processing chambers. Slide bearings which are held together by positive and non-positive fit in tempered carrier bodies are displaced through said chambers comprising pretreatment, atomization and evaporation chambers using a conveyance system adapted to this process. A tempering device for the carrier bodies is connected upstream from the coating track. Corresponding inlet and outlet channels enable air-to-air conveyance.

Abstract: The present invention describes a coated substrate material. The coating is formed by one or more layers of refractory compounds of which at least one layer of fine-grained, crystalline &ggr;-phase alumina, Al2O3, with a grainsize less than 0.1 &mgr;m. The Al2O3layer is deposited with a bipolar pulsed DMS technique (Dual Magnetron Sputtering) at substrate temperatures in the range 450° C. to 700° C., preferably 550° C. to 650° C., depending on the particular substrate material. Identification of the &ggr;-phase alumina is made by X-ray diffraction. Reflexes from the (400) and (440) planes occurring at the 2&thgr;-angles 45.8 and 66.8 degrees when using CuK&agr; radiation identify the &ggr;-phase Al2O3. The alumina layer is also very strongly textured in the [440]-direction. The Al2O3 layer is virtually free of cracks and halogen impurities. Furthermore, the Al2O3 layer gives the cutting edge of the tool an extremely smooth surface finish.

Abstract: The present invention describes a coating cutting tool for metal machining and a process for producing such tools. The coating is composed of one or more layers of refractory compounds of which at least one layer consists of nanocrystalline aluminum spinel of the type (Me)xAl2O3+x where Me is a second metal and 0<x≦1, deposited by Physical Vapor Deposition.

Abstract: The present invention describes a coated cutting tool for metal machining. The coating is composed of one or more layers of refractory compounds of which at least one layer consists of fine-grained, crystalline &ggr;-phase alumina, Al2O3, with a grainsize less than 0.1 &mgr;m. The Al2O3 layer is deposited with a bipolar pulsed DMS technique (Dual Magnetron Sputtering) at substrate temperatures in the range 450° C. to 700° C., preferably 550° C. to 650° C., depending on the particular material of the tool body to be coated. Identification of the &ggr;-phase alumina is made by X-ray diffraction. Reflexes from the (400) and (440) planes occurring at at the 2&thgr;-angles 45.8 and 66.8, degrees when using CuK&agr; radiation identify the &ggr;-phase Al2O3. The alumina layer is also very strongly textured in the [440]-direction.

Abstract: The present invention describes a coated cutting tool for metal machining. The coating is formed by one or more layers of a refractory compound of which at least one layer of fine-grained, crystalline &ggr;-phase alumina, Al2O3, with a grain size of less than 0.1 &mgr;m. The Al2O3 layer is deposited with a bipolar pulsed DMS technique (Dual Magnetron Sputtering) at substrate temperatures in the range 450° C. to 700° C., preferably 550° C. to 650° C., depending on the particular material of the tool body to be coated. Identification of the &ggr;-phase alumina is made by X-ray diffraction. Reflexes from the (400) and (440) planes occurring at the 2&thgr;-angles 45.8 and 66.8 degrees when using Cu&kgr;&agr; radiation identify the &ggr;-phase Al2O3. The alumina layer is also very strongly textured in the [(440)]-direction. The Al2O3 layer is virtually free of cracks and halogen impurities. Furthermore, the Al2O3 layer gives the cutting edge of the tool an extremely smooth surface finish.

Abstract: Method for producing at least one organically-modified oxide, oxinitride or nitride layer by vacuum coating on a substrate through plasma-enhanced evaporation of evaporation material comprising nitride-forming evaporation material and one of oxide and suboxide evaporation material, wherein the at least one layer is deposited through plasma-enhanced, reactive high-rate evaporation of the evaporation material with use of gaseous monomers and a reactive gas including at least one of oxygen and nitrogen, and wherein the evaporation material, gaseous monomers, and reactive gas pass through a high-density plasma zone immediately in front of the substrate.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for pre-treatment of a substrate surface in a vacuum by a glow discharge for a subsequent coating process in a vacuum. The process includes maintaining a low pressure glow discharge between the substrate to be pre-treated and a counter-electrode, where the counter-electrode composed of at least a component of the coating to be deposited in the vacuum coating process. The process also includes periodically alternating a polarity of the substrate to act as a cathode or as an anode of the low pressure glow discharge, and individually controlling at least one of pulse length and discharge voltage in both polarities. A frequency of alternation of the polarity is set within a range of between 1 Hz and 1000 kHz. The apparatus includes an evacuatable vacuum chamber, a substrate holder positioned to hold a substrate to be pre-treated, at least one counter-electrode, and an alternating voltage generator coupled to the substrate to be pre-treated and the at least one counter-electrode.

Abstract: Electron gun with band-shaped beams that includes a vacuum chamber extend in a longitudinal direction, a beam window running in the longitudinal direction along the vacuum chamber, and a cathode control-electrode system positioned within the vacuum chamber in the longitudinal direction. The cathode control-electrode system includes at least one substantially straight cathode positioned substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the cathode control-electrode system and the at least one substantially straight cathode has bulges formed at defined distances. The bulges are shaped to produce a substantially homogeneous current density distribution along the at least one substantially straight cathode and support units are located in the cathode control-electrode system to correspond with the bulges. The bulges are removably couplable to the support units.

Abstract: A process an device for ion-supported vacuum coating.The process and the affiliated device is intended to permit the high-rate ating of large-surfaced, electrically conductive and electrically insulating substrates with electrically insulating and electrically conductive coatings with relatively low expenditure. The substrates are predominantly band-shaped, in particular plastic sheets with widths of over a meter.According to the invention, in an intrinsically known device for vacuum coating, alternating negative and positive voltage pulses are applied to the electrically conductive substrate or in electrically insulating substrates, to an electrode disposed directly behind them, e.g. the cooling roller, relative to the plasma or to an electrode that is disposed almost at plasma potential. The form, the voltage, and the duration of the pulses are adapted to the coating task and the material.The process is used particularly for depositing abrasion protection, corrosion protection, and barrier coatings.

Abstract: Compound body of a vacuum coated sintered material and a process for its production. Such compound bodies, when coated in a known manner, have a carrier of sintered material coated with a layer that is thermally, mechanically and chemically unstable, with their surface showings cracks and being partially porous. These shortcomings are overcome via an improved eco-friendly vacuum deposition process, wherein at least one layer of a material, having an outer layer of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, is applied to the carrier of sintered material at a maximum of 800.degree. C., with this layer being completely crystalline and comprised of an .alpha.Al.sub.2 O.sub..sub.3 phase and possibly of a .gamma.Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 phase with a (440) texture, having a compressive stress of at least 1 GPa and a hardness of at least 20 GPa, with the Al.sub.2 O.sub.

Abstract: Vacuum coated compound body and a process for its production. Such compound bodies, when coated in a known manner, have a carrier of a metal or of an alloy, a layer that is thermally, mechanically and chemically unstable, with their surface showing cracks and being partially porous. These shortcomings are overcome via an improved eco-friendly vacuum deposition process wherein at least one layer of a material having an outer layer is of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, is applied to the metal or alloy carrier at a maximum of 700.degree. C., with this layer being completely crystalline and comprised of an .alpha.Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 phase and possibly of a .gamma.Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 phase with a (440) texture, having a compressive stress of at least 1 Gpa and a hardness of at least 20 Gpa, with the Al.sub.2 O.sub.

Abstract: It is known that improved coating properties can be obtained by plasma action in vacuum deposition, especially by vaporization. Substantially higher coating rates can be attained in vapor deposition, but, with high plasma densities, they result in excessive scattering of the electron beam and reduce the power density. According to the invention, a plasma source, preferably a hollow cathode are source, is arranged in the immediate vicinity of the substrate. Between the evaporator and the substrate there is a device for generating a magnetic field so that the region of high plasma density is separated from the evaporator and the electron beam by the magnetic field. The boundary field lines of this magnetic field run along an arc curving with respect to the substrate.

Abstract: Certain non-optical characteristics and, in particular, mechanical characteristics are not measurable in situ in the industrial production of layers using plasma-assisted reactive electron beam vaporization, particularly if high demands are made on the hardness, wear resistance and barrier action, so as to be able to reproducibly apply the layers. The values of the optical layer characteristics are to be used as a control signal. In this method, immediately after the substrate has passed through the vaporizing zone, the reflection and/or transmission and absorption capacity are measured in the wavelength range .DELTA..sub.k =150 to 800 nm and from this are determined the refractive index and optical absorption coefficient. These determined values are compared with an experimentally determined desired value. A control signal obtained therefrom, in the case of a constant reactive gas partial pressure, controls the plasma and maintains constant the optical characteristics of the layer.