Apparatus and method for producing plane-parallel flakes

Abstract

An apparatus and method technique for producing plane-parallel flakes is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention is realized through a multi-chamber apparatus for producing plane-parallel flakes from layers vapor deposited in vacuum on an endlessly circulating substrate. The present invention includes the sequential steps of: vapor deposition of a separating agent layer in high vacuum on the endlessly circulating substrate; vapor deposition of one or more layers of metal, oxides, fluorides, and nitrides in high vacuum on the separating agent layer; and stripping the vapor deposited layers from the endlessly circulating substrate under low vacuum. The vapor deposited layers are subsequently present in a separate vacuum stage separated from the vapor deposition chamber by dynamic locks as a suspension of fine flakes in a mixture of solvent. and separating agent. The suspension may continuously or intermittently be transferred out of the separate vacuum stage for further processing. The solvent may be water in a vacuum environment of more than 20 mbar or secondary or tertiary alcohols at more than 0.05 mbar.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.