Abstract: In accordance with the invention, a method of depositing substituted fluorocarbon polymeric layers exhibiting a high degree of cross-linking is presented. The substituted fluorocarbon polymeric layers are formed of substituted fluorocarbon polymers in which the carbon functionality in standard fluorocarbon polymers is selectively replaced with a substitute functionality, typically silicon, oxygen or nitrogen. Formation of a substituted fluorocarbon polymeric layer includes placing a substrate into a reactor and, while maintaining the reactor pressure below 100 torr, introducing a process gas into the reactor. Optionally, the substrate is biased. The process gas is then ionized thereby depositing the substituted fluorocarbon polymeric layer on the substrate.

Abstract: There are disclosed method and apparatus for producing a magnetic recording medium including a non-magnetic substrate, a magnetic layer formed on one surface of said non-magnetic substrate and a back coat layer formed on an opposite surface of said non-magnetic substrate. By using the method and the apparatus, the magnetic recording medium having the back coat layer, which exhibits a high lubricating property and a low dynamic friction coefficient, can be produced with a high operating efficiency. The method includes the steps of forming the back coat layer by a plasma chemical vapor deposition and supplying a lubricant, substantially at the time when the back coat layer is formed by the plasma chemical vapor deposition, such that the lubricant is introduced into the back coat layer.

Abstract: This invention relates to a new technique for preparing metal devices such as guidewires for the subsequent attachment of hydrophilic coatings. The invention also relates to guidewires and other devices made according to that method.In one embodiment of the method of this invention, a hydrocarbon residue undercoat is applied to a metal guidewire core by plasma deposition. A photoactive hydrophilic polymer is then deposited on the hydrocarbon residue coating and activated by ultraviolet light. The hydrocarbon residue coating acts as a tie layer between the hydrophilic polymer and the metal guidewire core apparently by providing C--C bonds for the covalent linking of the coating material to the tie layer. The resulting article of this invention is a guidewire having the maneuverability of a metal guidewire and the biocompatibility of a lubricious, hydrophilic polymer.

Abstract: A protection film and a lubricant layer of monomers are formed successively on a ferromagnetic metal thin film formed on a nonmagnetic substrate or on a base of sliding member. Then, the lubricant layer is irradiated with radicals or atomic gas in the plasma discharge or with an electron beam to form graft polymers in the lubricant layer, and the protection film and the lubricant layer are bonded chemically. Thus, the reliability of a magnetic recording medium and a sliding member can be improved.

Abstract: System for and a method of fixing chlorofluorocarbons or other halogenated hydrocarbons, for example, CHF.sub.3 or CCl.sub.2 F.sub.2 recirculated and collected or discharged from a dry etching apparatus, so as to make the chlorofluorocarbon or halogenated hydrocarbon harmless against the earth's ozone layer. A gaseous hydrocarbon like ethane, ethylene or acetylene gas is mixed with a chlorofluorocarbon or other halogenated hydrocarbon gas in a reaction tube 61. The mixed gas is then excited to a plasma state for plasma copolymerization. A solid copolymer of the halogenated hydrocarbon and the hydrocarbon generated by the plasma copolymerization is deposited and accumulated onto the inner wall of the reaction tube 61 or on a fixation member 14.

Abstract: The adhesion between a polymeric fluorocarbon film and a substrate is improved by providing a thin layer of silicon or a silicide intermediate between the substrate and the polymeric fluorocarbon film, such that a region containing a high density of Si-C bonds is formed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for coating a magnetic recording device with a lubricating polymeric film using an ion beam generator.

Abstract: A thin fluoropolymer film is covalently bonded to a microporous ptfe film to make a bilayer for separation, filtration or reverse osmosis, by exposing the microporous film to perfluorocyclohexane under plasma.

Abstract: Process for reducing the friction coefficient between water, and, surfaces of fabricated bodies made from polymeric materials, and for increasing the water repellency of said surfaces, which process comprises treating the concerned surface with a corrosive solution, and coating it with a thin layer of fluorinated polymer.

Abstract: An applicator with a surface having a first wetting angle and a first surface area, which surface area has grafted thereto a layer of ion-producing gas plasma having a second wetting angle and a second surface are, wherein the second wetting angle is less than the first wetting angle and the second surface area is greater than the first surface area.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing a metal-organic polymer combination by contacting the polymer with a plasma followed by an aqueous solution of a metal salt. In one embodiment a water or nitrous oxide plasma is used to treat a polyimide or a fluorinated polymer. The polymer is combined with a metal cation, the metal being a catalyst for a conventional electroless coating after which it is contacted with an electroless metal plating bath for the formation of electrical circuits and especially for plating high aspect ratio vias in microcircuits. Unlike the conventional electroless process, the cationic catalytic metal is not reduced to a zero valent metal catalyst prior to the application of the electroless metal coating solution.The process also improves the wettability of the polymer, especially the fluorinated polymer and is especially useful in improving the wettability of high aspect ratio vias.

Abstract: The present invention refers to the deposition of thin film coatings produced by plasma-activated chemical vapor deposition of volatile fluorinated cyclic siloxanes of the structure [RR'SiO].sub.x, in which R is a hydrocarbon radical with 1-6 carbon atoms, R' is a fluorinated hydrocarbon radical with 3-10 carbon atoms, the carbon in the alpha and beta positions with respect to the silicon atom is hydrogenated and x is 3 or 4.

Abstract: Polymeric fluorocarbon layer is prepared by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition in a chamber, the walls of which are coated with a polymeric fluorocarbon film by introducing a gaseous polymerizable fluorocarbon into the chamber and applying radio-frequency at a power level of about 100 to about 1000 watts, employing a pressure of about 10 to 180 mTorr and a self-bias voltage of about -50 to about -700 volts. The polymeric fluorocarbon layer is about 0.05 to about 5 .mu.m thick, has a maximum dielectric constant of about 2.5, has a C/F ratio of about 1:1 to about 1:3, is thermally stable at temperatures of at least about 350.degree. C., and is substantially free from metallic contamination and oxygen.

Abstract: A method for preparing a rubber-based composite material by joining a base material and a rubber composition together by heat pressure bonding can achieve strong bonding without using any adhesives, wherein a monomer is polymerized by atmospheric-pressure glow discharge plasma technique to form a polymerized film having unsaturated bonds on the surface of the base material and then the rubber composition is bonded to said polymerized film by heat pressure bonding to join the base material and the rubber together.

Abstract: A method for preparing a rubber-based composite material by joining a base material and a rubber composition together by heat pressure bonding can achieve strong bonding without using any adhesives, wherein a monomer is polymerized by low-pressure glow discharge plasma technique to form a polymerized film having unsaturated bonds on the surface of the base material and then the rubber composition is bonded to said polymerized film by heat pressure bonding to join the base material and the rubber together.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to epoxy-based polymeric nonlinear optical materials in which a nonlinear optical active moiety or functionality forms the crosslink between polymer chains and a process for making the nonlinear optical (NLO) epoxy polymer including heating an epoxy resin and a curing agent such as a bi- or tri-functional aromatic amine containing an electron-withdrawing group, for example, diamino diphenylsulfone and poling the mixture under high voltage at elevated temperature for a period of time to bring about orientation of the nonlinear optical moieties in the polymer. The polymers have enhanced stability over polymers in which only one end of an NLO active moiety is attached to the polymer chain.

Abstract: A method of permanently modifying the surface of a substrate material so as to develop a microscopically smooth, biocompatible surface thereon comprises covalently grafting a biocompatible polymeric material to the surface of the substrate material by radio frequency plasma-induced grafting. The biocompatible polymeric material is preferably the same as the substrate material. In addition, a method of permanently modifying the surface of a substrate material comprises subjecting the substrate surface to radio frequency plasma sufficient to raise the temperature at the substrate material to just above the glass transition temperature (T.sub.g) of the substrate material for a time sufficient to produce a microscopically smooth, biocompatible surface on the substrate material. Further, a prosthesis used in mammals, including an intraocular lens, comprises a polymeric material core and a biocompatible polymeric material covalently grafted to the polymer core by radio frequency plasma induction.

Abstract: A vascular graft with improved endothelial cell adhesion can be achieved on a fluoropolymer surface of a vascular graft by treating the fluoropolymer with a plasma in the presence of a non-polymerizing gas capable of providing the fluoropolymer with anionic groups and binding a protein to the treated fluoropolymer. In a preferred embodiment, the fluoropolymer surface is a plasma deposited fluoropolymer. Also in a preferred embodiment, autologous endothelial cells are seeded onto the vascular graft prior to implantation of the vascular graft in the human body.

Abstract: Polymeric fluorocarbon layer is prepared by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition in a chamber, the walls of which are coated with a polymeric fluorocarbon film by introducing a gaseous polymerizable fluorocarbon into the chamber and applying radio-frequency at a power level of about 100 to about 1000 watts, employing a pressure of about 10 to 180 mTorr and a self-bias voltage of about -50 to about -700 volts. The polymeric fluorocarbon layer is about 0.05 to about 5 .mu.m thick, has a maximum dielectric constant of about 2.5, has a C/F ratio of about 1:1 to about 1:3, is thermally stable at temperatures of at least about 350.degree. C., and is substantially free from metallic contamination and oxygen.

Abstract: A hydrocarbonous-based cosmetic product, such as a lipstick, has its surface treated by means of a plasma treatment process employing a halogen gas. The treated (i.e., halogenated) surface has a uniform, satin-matte finish, as well as a lower wetting angle with respect to certain materials capable of providing the cosmetic product with an ultra-glossy finish. Thus, if such materials are subsequently applied to the halogenated surface of the cosmetic product, the cosmetic product can be provided with an ultra-glossy finish.

Abstract: A magnesium alloy structural member for supporting at least one actuator arm in a hard disk drive and a method for making a shaped magnesium part having a fluorocarbon coating is disclosed. The coating is applied by exposing the member to a reactive gas in the presence of a glow discharge plasma to prevent corrosion. The glow discharge is generated by providing a vacuum environment at a pressure of between 250 and 300 millitorr in a reaction chamber and applying power to a pair of electrodes contained within the reaction chamber. Power is supplied at between about 100 and about 200 watts at about 13.6 megahertz, forming a low temperature glow discharge plasma. A reactive gas comprising a fluorinated alkane is introduced to the reaction chamber, and a pressure of between about 100 and about 300 millitorr is maintained. The structural member is exposed to the reactive gas and the plasma for an amount of time sufficient to form a thin and uniform polymeric fluorocarbon coating on the surface of the part.