Methods for externally treating a container with application of internal bias gas

Abstract

In a method of treating a hollow article, a first gas substantially fills the inside of the article. A second gas including electrically charged species is provided on the outside of the article. The two gases are maintained separate from one another. The first gas is maintained is an electrically conductive state as, for example, in an ionized state. An electrical potential is applied to a first electrode in contact with the first gas. Because the first gas is conductive, this first potential is applied at the interior surfaces of the article and, therefore, influences the electrically charged species in the second gas on the outside of the article. The electrically charged species in the second gas interact with the exterior surfaces of the article under the influence of the electrical potential applied through the first gas. The second gas may be a plasma and a reactant may be introduced into the second gas so that reaction products are formed and deposited on the exterior surface of the article.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.