Abstract: A medical device comprising a substrate having a plasma polymerized functionally bonded to at least a portion of the substrate. A superoxide dismutase mimic agent having a complimentary functional group to the plasma polymerized functionality is bonded to the portion of the substrate by bonding to the plasma polymerized functionality.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for single-step surface modification, grafting and sterilization for bio-active coating on materials and biomaterials used in medical devices, such as catheters, tissue engineering scaffolds, or drug delivery carrier materials. This may include any medical device or implantable that could benefit from improved antithrombogenic and biocompatible surfaces. Other relevant device examples may include heparin or urokinase coated stents to reduce clotting and restenosis, dental or ophthamological implants. These materials may be comprised of a variety of polymeric compositions such as, polyurethane, polyester, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene, polymethylmethacrylate, polyHEMA, polyvinyl alcohol, polysiloxanes, polylactic or glycolic acids, polycaprolactone, etc. The substrates can also be metal, ceramics or biologically derived materials.

Abstract: A process for producing scratch-resistant coatings, encompassing the following steps: applying at least one UV-curable coating composition to at least one surface of an article to be coated, said coating composition comprising at least one polymer and/or oligomer P1 containing on average at least one ethylenically unsaturated double bond per molecule, and curing the coating composition by exposure to UV radiation, which comprises conducting the curing of the coating composition under an oxygen-containing protective gas which has an oxygen partial pressure in the range from 0.2 to 18 kPa.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing high-density polyidimide (HPI) films and its production equipment. The production equipment comprises a raw material supplying means, a vacuum cavity, an energy supplier, a clad laminator, and a baked solidified polymer. The foregoing components constitutes the production equipment, using the monomer with the CONH bond or copolymer as raw materials to extract the unsaturated C═N bond by heat, electrons, light, radiation rays or ions as energy under low-pressure environment, so that the H in vacuum can extract the non-solidified HPI film from the electronic radical covalent polymers and via heat or light to rearrange the structure into a solidified HPI film. By means of the method according to the present invention, the original HPI that is not easily to produce as a film can be easily made in form of a film of HPI polymer on the clad laminator.

Abstract: A method is provided for surface treating a porous sheet material. The surface treatment involves contacting at least one porous surface of the film with plasma at atmospheric pressure and a plasma generating electrode frequency of greater than 1 MHz. This method provides treatment which penetrates into the pores of the sheet material.

Abstract: Coating an implantable device, such as micro electromechanical devices, is highly desirable to protect the implantable device from corrosion. A coating method includes depositing, preferably by plasma glow discharge, a reactant monomer on at least one surface of an implantable device, preferably at ambient temperature. The method will likely decrease the manufacturing time required for assembling such devices because completely assembled devices can be coated.

Abstract: The infusion set comprises of a connecting tube of polyethylene which is treated to form a wetable surface or treated with a primer and then bonded to a PVC hub by using solvent adhesive to solvent bond the low density polyethylene tubing or Teflon tubing to a PVC hub. The surface treatment methods include a methane plasma surface that is applied to tubing in a continuous manner and alternatively a primer that is applied locally and dried prior to applying the adhesive. Both techniques form a strong and resilient bond for the infusion needle and tube when assembled to the PVC hubs.

Abstract: A method for treating substrates including the steps of: providing a substrate; exposing said substrate to a plasma glow discharge in the presence of a fluorocarbon gas; maintaining said gas at a pressure between about 50 mTorr and about 400 mTorr; generating said plasma as a modulated glow discharge; pulsing said discharge at an on time of 1-500 milliseconds; pulsing said glow at an off time of 1-1000 milliseconds; maintaining said plasma glow discharge at a power density of 0.02-10 watts/cm2; and applying a hydrophobic coating to said substrate.

Abstract: To provide the filler which is added to a composition for a sealing member, etc. for sealing of semi-conductor production equipment being apt to be damaged greatly by mixing of a foreign matter and is small in a change in weight in either of the oxygen plasma irradiation and CF4 plasma irradiation, and the crosslinkable elastomer composition. The filler is used for the crosslinkable elastomer and has an imide structure, and a change in weight of the filler is not more than 4 mg/cm2·hr in either of the oxygen plasma irradiation and CF4 plasma irradiation. The crosslinkable elastomer composition comprises the filler and the crosslinkable elastomer such as a fluorine-containing elastomer.

Abstract: A tetrafluoroethylene-ethylene copolymer (ETFE) film, wherein polar groups are present on the surface of the film after a surface treatment, and the surface roughness Ra is at most the surface roughness Ra of the surface of an untreated film; an ETFE film, wherein polar groups are present on the surface of the film after a surface treatment, and the amount of a weak boundary layer is at most one time of the amount of a weak boundary layer on the surface of an untreated film; a laminate employing such a film having an extremely excellent bonding strength; and a process for producing it with a mass production property.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for making a coated plastic container, such as for packaged beverages, possessing a gas barrier and having enhanced resistance to loss in barrier due to handling abuses expansion of walls of the container. The system comprises a vacuum cell, a coating source in the vacuum cell for supplying a coating vapor to an external surface of a plastic container positioned within the vacuum cell, and gas feeds for supplying one or more process gases into an interior space of the vacuum cell. The coating source heats and evaporates an inorganic coating material, such as metal or silicon, to form a coating vapor, which is energized to form a plasma. The process gases include a carbon-containing gas, such as acetylene.

Abstract: A method for fabricating silicone elastomer stamps with hydrophilic surfaces is provided. The concept of polymer grafting is used to produce the stamps. The stamps thus produced have the great advantage that grafting of a thin hydrophilic polymer on a hydrophobic PDMS surface can render PDMS stamps permanently hydrophilic. With such stamps it becomes possible to print aqueous or highly polar inks reproducibly over days and weeks.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for coating a material surface, comprising the steps of: (a) covalently binding a compound comprising an ethylenically unsaturated double bond to the material surface; (b) polymerizing a monomer comprising a reactive or crosslinkable group on the surface and thereby providing a primary polymer coating comprising reactive or crosslinkable groups, (c) in case of a monomer comprising a reactive group in step (b) reacting the reactive groups of the primary coating with a further compound comprising an ethylenically unsaturated double bond and graft-polymerizing a hydrophilic monomer and optionally a co-monomer having a crosslinkable group onto the primary coating obtained according to step (b) and (d) in case of crosslinkable groups being present in step (b) or (c) initiating crosslinking of said groups.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are taught for treating paper webs for obtaining the proper surface characteristics to promote adhesion of nonphotosensitive coating materials and/or layers typically coated thereon. The web is passed through a high-voltage sheath region or dark space of the plasma generated by a powered electrode residing in a discharge zone. The frequency of the driving voltage must be above a lower bound dictated by the properties of the paper support and the plasma, and it must be below an upper bound beyond which the sheath voltages drop significantly and it is observed that the benefits of this approach diminish. The dark space is generated by a treatment electrode in a treatment zone. There is a counter electrode having a surface area in said treatment zone which is at least as great as the surface area of the treatment electrode.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for cross-linking photosensitive inks in particular polymersible inks (36) by ultraviolet radiation consisting in a step (35) inking dots (31) on a base (38) and a subsequent step consisting in applying a concentrated ultraviolet beam (32) on the inked dots (31), except for the base non-inked surfaces (30). The beam is in particular an ultraviolet laser beam. The invention is applicable to jet dot-matrix printing and polychromy.

Abstract: A tetrafluoroethylene-ethylene copolymer (ETFE) film, wherein polar groups are present on the surface of the film after a surface treatment, and the surface roughness Ra is at most the surface roughness Ra of the surface of an untreated film; an ETFE film, wherein polar groups are present on the surface of the film after a surface treatment, and the amount of a weak boundary layer is at most one time of the amount of a weak boundary layer on the surface of an untreated film; a laminate employing such a film having an extremely excellent bonding strength; and a process for producing it with a mass production property.

Abstract: A method for reducing crazing in a plastics material characterised in that it comprises the steps of: (1) cleaning the surface of the material; and (2) exposing the cleaned surface to plasma of a monomer vapour so as to produce a substantially non-oxidising plasma polymer coating on the surface.

Abstract: In a method for the coating of substrates made of plastic, with a light-reflecting layer, preferably an aluminum layer, and another layer placed between the substrate and the light-reflecting layer, the additional layer, which has a high barrier effect to substances which migrate or evolve gases from the plastic, is a highly crosslinked hydrocarbon layer, a silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, or silicon oxynitride layer, with a thickness of at least 15 nm, wherein the carbon content of the barrier layer is <15%.

Abstract: A non-cracking hydrophilic polyether sulfone membrane is prepared by (a) directly coating the entire surface of a hydrophobic polyethersulfone membrane with an aqueous solution of a polyalkylene oxide polymer and at least one polyfunctional monomer, and (b) polymerizing the monomer over the entire surface of the membrane under conditions which cause the resulting polymer to attach to the polyethersulfone membrane and the polyethylene oxide to form a non-extractable surface which does not crack when the membrane is folded to form a pleated cartridge.

Abstract: A line-type film-forming method for sequentially forming aluminum metallized films and silicone plasma polymerized protective films on a plurality of synthetic-resin base materials. The films are formed by moving a case, which houses the synthetic-resin base materials, successively in line through an aluminum metallizing chamber and a plasma polymerized film forming chamber so as to form a reflector that can be mounted in a discharge headlamp.

Abstract: A process for producing antiadhesive layers on a web-form material, characterized in that the antiadhesive layers are applied to the web-form material by means of low pressure plasma polymerization by guiding the web-form material continuously through a plasma zone containing a low pressure plasma.

Abstract: The present invention describes coated articles and methods for preparing such articles, wherein the primary coating comprises a plasma-induced polymer carrying reactive groups. The invention further relates to the reaction of said primary coatings carrying reactive groups with monomeric, oligomeric or macromolecular compounds of synthetic, semisynthetic or biological origin to provide hybrid-type coated articles (secondary coatings).

Abstract: A method for modifying the surface of a material adapted for contact with tissue of a human or non-human animal to impart biofunctional, bioactive or biomimetic properties to the surface comprising: (a) exposing the surface to a solution comprising (1) an ethylenically unsaturated monomer or mixture thereof capable, via the ethylenic unsaturation, of gamma irradiation or electron beam induced polymerization, and (2) at least one biofunctional agent; and (b) irradiating the surface with gamma or electron beam irradiation in the presence of the solution to thereby form on the surface a graft polymerized coating, the coating having physically entrapped therein or chemically bonded thereto molecules of the at least one biofunctional agent which imparts biofunctional or biomimetic properties to the surface; wherein the gamma or electron beam irradiation induced polymerization is conducted under one of the following conditions: A. (i) monomer concentration in the solution in the range of from about 0.

Abstract: A process is provided for producing coated synthetic bodies during which, before the coating, the surface to be coated is subjected to a pretreatment in an excited gas atmosphere. The surface is then coated. The gas atmosphere is predominantly formed of a noble gas and nitrogen and/or hydrogen, and the ionic energy in the gas atmosphere and in the are of the surface to be coated is not more than 50 eV. The ionic energy is selected to be not more than 20 eV, preferable not more than 10 eV. The gas atmosphere is excited by means of a plasma discharge or by means of UV radiation.

Abstract: The surface of a high molecular weight polymer such as high molecular weight polyethylene is modified in a localized manner by treatment with a plasma gas. The treatment produces a variety of useful results, depending on the gas used and the treatment conditions. One such result is crosslinking of the polymer in a localized manner at the surface to improve the durability of the surface against detrimental processes such as reorientation and alignment of the crystalline lamellae parallel to the contact surface which renders the surface susceptible to disintegration into particles. Another result is the chemical transformation of the surface for purposes such as increasing the hydrophilic or hydrophobic nature of the surface or coupling functional groups to the surface.

Abstract: A rod-like or thread-like material is subjected to a plasma treatment by passing the material coaxially through a plasma nozzle while generating plasma therein.

Abstract: Described is a material in web form in which at least a portion of its surface has been plasma-treated. The material in web form is selected from metallic materials in web form having a thickness of less than 100 &mgr;m and polymeric materials in web form. The plasma treatment of the material in web form involves treating homogeneously at least a portion of the surface of the material in web form with an atmospheric plasma, optionally in the presence of a process gas and/or a process aerosol. The atmospheric plasma is generated by an indirect plasmatron.

Abstract: Devices, and their method of production, having coatings deposited by pulsed plasma polymerization of a macrocycle containing a heteroatom, wherein the heteroatom is oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, or a mixture thereof. The coatings on contact lens are preferably deposited by gas phase polymerization of a cyclic ether, such as crown ether, which coatings are non-fouling and wettable, and the gas phase polymerization utilizes a pulsed discharge.

Abstract: Devices, and their method of production, having coatings deposited by pulsed plasma polymerization of a macrocycle containing a heteroatom, wherein the heteroatom is oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, or a mixture thereof. The coatings on contact lens are preferably deposited by gas phase polymerization of a cyclic ether, such as crown ether, which coatings are non-fouling and wettable, and the gas phase polymerization utilizes a pulsed discharge.

Abstract: Device for processing a container (30) using a low pressure plasma, of the type having at least one processing station (14) comprising a fixed cavity (32) connected to a vacuum source by way of a vacuum circuit (74) and of the type in which processing station (14) has a mobile cover (34) equipped with means (54) for supporting container (30) such that the introduction of the container into cavity (32) is assured by displacement of cover (34) with respect to cavity (32), characterized in that cover (34) has a connecting channel (64) which, when cover (34) is in closed position sealing cavity (32) places cavity (32) in connection with a fixed end (68) of vacuum circuit (74).

Abstract: A treatment method for the internal surface of a moulded polyethylene plastics material container such as a drum, comprising the steps of: introducing an ionisable gas, such as argon, into the container; generating a plasma of the introduced gas by applying electric field of sufficient strength to the container and introduced gas, so as to cause an interaction with the internal surface of the container; coating the internal surface of the container with a curable epoxy-based first polymeric composition; and then curing the polymeric composition to form a coating on the internal surfaces of the container. A second coating, preferably with electrical conductive properties, may be applied and cured over the first coating. Conductive properties may provided by including conductive particles such as antimony doped tin dioxide, graphite or metal powders, in the second composition.

Abstract: A process for the surface treatment of a running substrate by an electrical discharge created between two roller electrodes, comprising a first roller electrode and a second roller electrode, in a gas mixture comprising the steps of passing the substrate in between the two roller electrodes by applying it against the first roller electrode; injecting the gas mixture between the rollers to apply a first surface treatment to the substrate; passing the substrate in between the two roller electrodes by applying it against a second roller electrode; and injecting the gas mixture between the rollers to apply a second surface treatment to the substrate.

Abstract: A non-cracking hydrophilic polyether sulfone membrane is prepared by (a) directly coating the entire surface of a hydrophobic polyethersulfone membrane with an aqueous solution of a polyalkylene oxide polymer and at least one polyfunctional monomer, and (b) polymerizing the monomer over the entire surface of the membrane under conditions which cause the resulting polymer to attach to the polyethersulfone membrane and the polyethylene oxide to form a non-extractable surface which does not crack when the membrane is folded to form a pleated cartridge.

Abstract: In the process for coating the elastomeric rubber wiper a vaporous coating material is generated and activated by a plasma and/or laser; a protective coating is formed on a rubber wiper surface by exposing it to the vaporous coating material by CVD and/or PVD methods and process parameters for the coating process are controlled so that the protective coating includes at least three coating layers and has a total thickness of from 200 nm to 2 &mgr;m. The coating layers include at least one thicker softer elastic coating layer with elastomeric properties similar to those of the rubber wiper and other thinner harder coating layers having wear-resistant properties. The other thinner harder coating layers have respective hardness increasing from an inner most one to an outermost one of the other thinner harder coating layers.

Abstract: An adhesive coating with optical and/or mechanical functions is applied to a PMMA substrate surface, a organic compound which is polymerized by radicals being used as the adhesive-providing layer. The coating with the optical and/or mechanical function(s) is obtained after radical-induced polymerization of the adhesive-providing layer.

Abstract: A process and device is shown for coating the delineating surfaces of a hollow object, preferably a hollow object having at least one sealable opening, by means of plasma coating, via the action of plasma on the delineating surface of the hollow object that is to be coated.

Abstract: A hybrid film, comprising a first polymer film having a plasma-treated surface and a second polymer film having first and second surfaces, with the first surface of the second polymer film being disposed along the first plasma-treated surface of the first polymer film, has superior thermal and mechanical properties that improve performance in a number of applications, including food packaging, thin film metallized and foil capacitors, metal evaporated magnetic tapes, flexible electrical cables, and decorative and optically variable films. One or more metal layers may be deposited on either the plasma-treated surface of the substrate and/or the radiation-cured acrylate polymer A ceramic layer may be deposited on the radiation-cured acrylate polymer to provide an oxygen and moisture barrier film. The hybrid film is produced using a high speed, vacuum polymer deposition process that is capable of forming thin, uniform, high temperature, cross-liked acrylate polymers on specific thermoplastic or thermoset films.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a polyethylene coated paperboard material with a mirror-pocket finish and a predetermined Dyne level is disclosed herein. The apparatus and method utilizes a double corona treatment on a single polyethylene surface to create the material with the predetermined Dyne level. Such paperboard material is often used for fabrication of cups, and the like. The predetermined Dyne level is required for printing requirements. The method and apparatus allow for the production of the predetermined Dyne level material at standard laminator operating speeds.

Abstract: The present invention relates to coated particles wherein the polymer chains of the coating are obtainable by after-glow plasma induced polymerization of a monomer under special plasma conditions. The invention further relates to a method for the production of articles coated with a polymer having these features.

Abstract: A surface-treated PFA film, wherein hydroxyl groups and carbonyl groups are present on the surface of the surface-treated PFA film. Further, the surface state of the surface-treated surface is a surface state having no irregularities, and preferably the average surface roughness is at most 10 nm. The surface treatment is carried out by RF or DC bombardment method, preferably in an Ar gas atmosphere.

Abstract: Plasma assisted polymerization and deposition of a very thin inner surface coating in a plastic or metal container without an undesirable increase in container surface temperature is provided to change the surface properties of the internal plastic surface of a container by reaction of the surface with a reactive gas which has been energized to produce a plasma or the surface is activated by a plasma of reactive gas so that it becomes receptive to a further surface reaction.

Abstract: A method for modifying a substrate surface, including the step of applying a high density plasma to the substrate surface in the presence of a hydrofluorocarbon gas and a carrier gas to form an antiwetting layer on the substrate surface. Optionally, the method including a cleaning step of contacting the slider surface with a carrier gas for a period of time effective to clean the surface.

Abstract: Lacrimal tissue inflammation and scarring is minimized when an ostium formed by balloon dacryocystorhinostomy is stented by a silicone member having a stent portion which may be treated to reduce friction between the stent portion and tissue supporting the lacrimal mucosal surface when the silicone member moves due to blinking. The stent portion may be treated by plasma deposition of a vaporized silicone based monomer upon the outer surface of the silicone member which is covalently bonded to the silicone member thereby forming a silicone polymer coating which is very smooth and pit-free. The member has a thin central segment of relatively small outer diameter, a pair of fat segments of relatively large outer diameter at opposite ends thereof, and thin end segments connected to the fat segments. The stent portion is formed from the central segment and the proximate end portions of the fat segments.

Abstract: Process for producing adhesion promoter layers on a material in web form, characterized in that the adhesion promoter layers are applied to the web-form material by means of low-pressure plasma polymerization, the material in web form being guided continuously through a plasma zone in which there is a low-pressure plasma which is generated by electrical discharge, especially kHz, MHz or GHz discharge.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of promoting the adhesion of textiles to rubber compounds through a vinyl compound plasma pre-treatment procedure and a subsequent application of resorcinol-formaldehyde latex (RFL) to the textile surface. The inventive method encompasses a process through which free radicals of compounds comprising strong carbon--carbon bonds form a film over textile films and then covalently bonded to the resin component of the RFL. Such a method thus produces an extremely strong and versatile adhesive that facilitates adhesion between rubber compounds and heretofore unusable or difficult-to-use textiles. The resultant textile/rubber composites are utilized as reinforcements within such materials as automobile tires, fan belts, conveyor belts, and the like. Such materials and composites are also contemplated within this invention.

Abstract: Objects such as pharmaceutical vial stoppers are coated by treating with material such as a fluoropolymer. The objects to be coated are mixed with pieces of the treating material, and the resulting pile is tumbled in a reaction vessel containing a plasma. The treating material is transferred from the pieces onto the objects to be coated.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of treating surfaces and surface-adjacent layers of dental components in particular. A series of several different plasma treatments produces high adhesion between the plasma-treated surface and a layer of plastic applied thereto. The invention also concerns a method of sealing the surface of work by treating it with plasma and covering it with a layer that contains silicate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing a sheet of plastic coated with a hard varnish on at least part of at least one of its sides, including:1) preparing a sheet of plastic by injection molding,2) applying the varnish to the said sheet, and3) heating the combination at a temperature at least equal to the softening point of the plastic of which the sheet is made, the varnish of at least a central part of the said combination being free of any mechanical contact other than that with the said sheet; the flat or curved transparent sheet thus obtained; its application as a motor-vehicle component containing a transparent part forming glazing and as motor-vehicle glazing.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of treating foam for improving wettability. The method includes treating foam with reactive species which interact to produce reaction products. The reaction products are then removed from foam. Finally, after removing reaction products the foam is treated with reactive species which interact to produce additional reaction products.

Abstract: A method of coating molded plastics articles which comprises first of all fluorinating, sulfonating, oxidizing or otherwise activating the surface of the articles and then covering them with a silane coating material.