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AssigneeGVD Corporation
InventorsErik S. Handy, Aleksander J. White, W. Shannan O'Shaughnessy, Hilton G. Pryce Lewis, Neeta P. Bansal, Karen K. Gleason
Estimating the term…
Coated articles and methods and systems for coating the articles are described herein. The methods and systems described herein include, but are not limited to, steps for actively or passively controlling the temperature during the coating process, steps for providing intimate contact between the substrate and the support holding the substrate in order to maximize energy transfer, and/or steps for preparing gradient coatings. Methods for depositing high molecular weight polymeric coatings, end-capped polymer coatings, coatings covalently bonded to the substrate or one another, metallic coatings, and/or multilayer coatings are also disclosed. Deposition of coatings can be accelerated and/or improved by applying an electrical potential and/or through the use of inert gases.
A method of coating an article with a gradient polymer coating comprising (1) directing more than one gas into a chamber under vacuum containing an article to be coated, (2) activating the gases with an energy source to form a gradient polymer coating on a surface of the article, and (3) varying one or more process conditions during the formation of the gradient polymer coating so as to alter the chemical and/or mechanical properties of the formed gradient polymer coating over the coating's thickness.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.