Polymer coatings

A thin film layer of 5 microns or less thickness comprising a homogeneous mixture of a polymer and an inorganic material selected from, nitrides, carbides, borides, metal oxides, metalloid oxides, mixtures of metal oxides, mixtures of metalloid oxides, and mixtures of metal and metalloid oxides.

A multi-layer laminate comprising at least two outer layers of polymeric material between about 10 and about 1000 nanometers thick and at least one inorganic oxide layer between about 10 and about 1000 nanometers thick.

Apparatus for depositing material on a substrate comprising

• a source of a liquid fluid comprising at least one substance,
• means for atomizing said liquid fluid and directing said atomized fluid at a first location on said substrate to deposit said fluid thereon,
• means for providing a flame that produces heated gases directed at either said first location on said substrate or a second location closely adjacent said first location, whereby said heated gases have a physical and/or chemical effect on said deposited fluid.

A method of applying a film of polymer 10 microns or less to a substrate, the substrate comprising suspending particulates of said polymer of mean particle size 1 micron or less in a carrier liquid to a concentration of 10 wt % or less based on weight of the carrier liquid, atomizing said suspension and directing the atomized suspension at the substrate to deposit the suspension on the substrate, and simultaneously applying heat to said deposited suspension sufficient to vaporize carrier liquid and fuse said particles into a thin film that adheres to the substrate.

A method of preparing a dielectric layer comprising depositing a thin film metal oxide and/or metalloid oxide on a substrate and subsequently depositing a thin polymer layer on said thin film metal oxide and/or metalloid oxide layer, whereby said polymer layer fills any defect in said thin film metal