Method for controlling a substrate interior pressure

A method for coating the exterior surface of a hollow substrate having an open first end and an open second end comprising:

• (a) dip coating the substrate in a solution, starting at the open second end, while the substrate is held by a chuck assembly which includes a membrane that forms a hermetic seal with the substrate, wherein gas is present inside the substrate between the solution adjacent the second end and the membrane, thereby defining a quantity of trapped gas molecules;
• and
• (b) changing the quantity of the trapped gas molecules during the dip coating by (i) withdrawing a portion of the trapped gas molecules through the membrane, or (ii) introducing additional gas molecules into the substrate interior through the membrane, thereby controlling the pressure of the gas inside the substrate during the dip coating.