Abstract: An apparatus for the application of coatings in a vacuum comprising a plasma duct surrounded by a magnetic deflecting system communicating with a first plasma source and a coating chamber in which a substrate holder is arranged off of an optical axis of the plasma source, has at least one deflecting electrode mounted on one or more walls of the plasma duct. In one embodiment an isolated repelling or repelling electrode is positioned in the plasma duct downstream of the deflecting electrode where the tangential component of a deflecting magnetic field is strongest, connected to the positive pole of a current source which allows the isolated electrode current to be varied independently and increased above the level of the anode current. The deflecting electrode may serve as a getter pump to improve pumping efficiency and divert metal ions from the plasma flow.

Abstract: An apparatus for the application of coatings in a vacuum comprising a plasma duct surrounded by a magnetic deflecting system communicating with a first plasma source and a coating chamber in which a substrate holder is arranged off of an optical axis of the plasma source, has at least one deflecting electrode mounted on one or more walls of the plasma duct. In one embodiment an isolated repelling or repelling electrode is positioned in the plasma duct downstream of the deflecting electrode where the tangential component of a deflecting magnetic field is strongest, connected to the positive pole of a current source which allows the isolated electrode current to be varied independently and increased above the level of the anode current. The deflecting electrode may serve as a getter pump to improve pumping efficiency and divert metal ions from the plasma flow.

Abstract: A low friction top coat over a multilayer metal/ceramic bondcoat provides a conductive substrate, such as a rotary tool, with wear resistance and corrosion resistance. The top coat further provides low friction and anti-stickiness as well as high compressive stress. The high compressive stress provided by the top coat protects against degradation of the tool due to abrasion and torsional and cyclic fatigue. Substrate temperature is strictly controlled during the coating process to preserve the bulk properties of the substrate and the coating. The described coating process is particularly useful when applied to shape memory alloys.

Abstract: The invention provides an arc coating apparatus having a steering magnetic field source comprising steering conductors (62, 64, 66, 68) disposed along the short sides (32c, 32d) of a rectangular target (32) behind the target, and a magnetic focusing system disposed along the long sides (32a, 32b) of the target (32) in front of the target which confines the flow of plasma between magnetic fields generated on opposite long sides (32a, 32b) of the target (32). The plasma focusing system can be used to deflect the plasma flow off of the working axis of the cathode. Each steering conductor (62, 64, 66, 68) can be controlled independently. In a further embodiment, electrically independent steering conductors (62, 64, 66, 68) are disposed along opposite long sides (32a, 32b) of the cathode plate (32), and by selectively varying a current through one conductor, the path of the arc spot shifts to widen the erosion corridor.

Abstract: A protective coating applied to abrasive layers of polycrystalline diamond located at the tip of abrasive dental tools is described. The protective coating is provided to protect the polycrystalline diamond layers in the course of storage, packaging, handling and sterilization. The protective coating is removable by abrasive forces when the cutting surfaces come into contact with porcelain and hard ceramic dental materials, teeth, bone or similar hard materials, and subsequently, the broken protective coating is rolled back and collected in the crevices and gaps of the polycrystalline diamond layer. The protective encapsulating coating can be made of a tough high melting point polymer layer, or a layer of a tough polymer also containing fine ceramic particles, or of a relatively soft, oxidation resistant metal or alloy.

Abstract: A heat transfer regulating mixture having a metallic component A with a melting point TA and a particulate ceramic component B which is non-wettable by the metallic component A, non-reactive therewith and which has a melting temperature TB which is higher than both the temperature TA and a desired operating temperature TD which is also higher than TA. The metallic component A and the particulate ceramic component B and the respective amounts will typically be selected to have a higher thermal resistivity above TA than below TA. The heat transfer regulating mixture may be incorporated in the heat transfer regulating device having the mixture within an enclosure having first and second contact faces.

Abstract: A protective coating applied to abrasive layers of polycrystalline diamond located at the tip of abrasive dental tools is described. The protective coating is provided to protect the polycrystalline diamond layers in the course of storage, packaging, handling and sterilization. The protective coating is removable by abrasive forces when the cutting surfaces come into contact with porcelain and hard ceramic dental materials, teeth, bone or similar hard materials, and subsequently, the broken protective coating is rolled back and collected in the crevices and gaps of the polycrystalline diamond layer. The protective encapsulating coating can be made of a tough high melting point polymer layer, or a layer of a tough polymer also containing fine ceramic particles, or of a relatively soft, oxidation resistant metal or alloy.

Abstract: A vapour deposited coating on the surface of a metal, such as a stainless steel substrate, obtained in a plasma vapour depositing device having magnetic vapour stream filtering means. The vapour deposited coating comprises pairs of a metal layer and a ceramic metal compound (“ceramic”) layer. The metal layer deposited is one of titanium, chromium, vanadium, aluminum, molybdenum, niobium, tungsten, zirconium, hafnium or alloys ofthese metals. The ceramic layer is a nitride, carbonitride, carbide, oxycarbide or oxynitride of one or an alloy of the above metals. The substrate surface is optionally ion nitride prior to the vapour deposition of the metal—ceramic layers. The substrate bearing pairs of metal—ceramic layers may be subsequently heat treated. The obtained coating on a metal substrate exhibits high wear resistance and hardness and low surface roughness.

Abstract: A vapour deposited coating on the surface of a metal, such as a stainless steel substrate, obtained in a plasma vapour depositing device having magnetic vapour stream filtering means. The vapour deposited coating comprises pairs of a metal layer and a ceramic metal compound (“ceramic”) layer. The metal layer deposited is one of titanium, chromium, vanadium, aluminum, molybdenum, niobium, tungsten, zirconium, hafnium or alloys ofthese metals. The ceramic layer is a nitride, carbonitride, carbide, oxycarbide or oxynitride of one or an alloy of the above metals. The substrate surface is optionally ion nitride prior to the vapour deposition of the metal - ceramic layers. The substrate bearing pairs of metal - ceramic layers may be subsequently heat treated. The obtained coating on a metal substrate exhibits high wear resistance and hardness and low surface roughness.

Abstract: A heat transfer regulating mixture having a metallic component A with a melting point TA and a particulate ceramic component B which is non-wettable by the metallic component A, non-reactive therewith and which has a melting temperature TB which is higher than both the temperature TA and a desired operating temperature TD which is also higher than TA. The metallic component A and the particulate ceramic component B and the respective amounts will typically be selected to have a higher thermal resistivity above TA than below TA. The heat transfer regulating mixture may be incorporated in a thermal flux regulator having the mixture within an enclosure surrounding a heat generating reactor structure.