An apparatus and to a method for treating layers using a plasma zone sealed from the outer atmospheric pressure are provided. The apparatus and method include a plasma reactor including a substrate carrier in form of a container receiving means, and a closing element that is joined with the substrate carrier by means of a lifting device.

A method and system for nanoscale precision programmable profiling on substrates. Profiling material is dispensed on a substrate or a superstrate. The superstrate is brought in contact with the substrate. The profiling material is then cured after bringing the superstrate in contact with the substrate. The superstrate is separated from the substrate after curing. An optical metrology of points on the substrate corresponding to the final substrate profile is then performed.

An improved inside of can curing technology is provided. One implementation uses narrowband, semiconductor produced infrared energy which is focused into the inside of the can to affect a very high-speed curing result and will directly impact the coating covering the inside walls of the can to rapidly cure the coating. De-tempering and annealing of the aluminum can body does not have time to occur, thus leaving a stronger can with the same amount of aluminum or a can of the same strength but with less aluminum. It is also possible to eliminate the natural gas fueled oven that is the current standard and replace it with a completely hydrocarbon-free curing alternative that has superior performance. This high powered radiant, narrowband energy will be digitally controlled to introduce only the needed heat and to not overheat the can.

Methods for depositing materials are described. The methods comprise maintaining a substrate support at a substrate support temperature which is lower than a precursor source temperature. The methods further comprise condensing or depositing a precursor on a substrate, and then curing condensed or deposited precursor to form a layer.

The invention relates to the use of a composition for in vacuo coating of a substrate, the composition comprising: at least 50% by weight an acrylate monomer or an oligomer formed from the acrylate monomer, the acrylate monomer having the formula H2C═CHCO2CH2CH(OH)R, where R is an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, or heteroaryl; and 0.5 to 15% by weight an adhesion promoter. The present invention also related to uses of the composition and methods of coating a substrate in vacuo using the composition.

An article includes a first portion including a silicone polymer; a second portion adjacent to the first portion, wherein the second portion includes a thermoplastic polymer including a functional moiety that forms a chemical bond with the silicone polymer. A method of forming an article includes providing a first portion including a silicone polymer; providing a second portion adjacent to the first portion, wherein the second portion includes a thermoplastic polymer including a functional moiety that forms a chemical bond with the silicone polymer; and curing the first portion at a temperature lower than the heat deformation temperature of the thermoplastic polymer to form the chemical bond between the functional moiety of the second portion and the silicone polymer of the first portion.

Systems for depositing materials and related methods are described. The systems allow condensing or depositing a precursor on a substrate, and then curing condensed or deposited precursor to form a layer.

A method including providing a substrate having a surface, the surface is hydroxylated and exposing the hydroxylated surface of the substrate to a PDMS oligomer. The PDMS oligomer has a formula of: R.sub.1—Si(CH.sub.3).sub.2—(O—Si(CH.sub.3).sub.2—).sub.n—O—Si(CH.sub.3).sub.2—R.sub.2 where at least one of R.sub.1 or R.sub.2 includes: —(CH.sub.2).sub.m—R.sub.3, R.sub.3=one of —Cl, —O—(CH.sub.2).sub.xH, —SiCl.sub.3, or —Si(O—(CH.sub.2).sub.xH).sub.3, x=0 to 10, m=0 to 10, n=10 to 500. R.sub.3 undergoes hydrolysis such that one terminal Si atom of the PDMS oligomer is covalently bonded to the hydroxylated surface by a condensation reaction to form a grafted layer of PDMS polymers on the surface. An article including a substrate having a surface with a grafted layer of PDMS polymers thereon, each of the PDMS polymers have a formula of: -Q.sub.1-Si(CH.sub.3).sub.2—(O—Si(CH.sub.3).sub.2—).sub.n—O—Si(CH.sub.3).sub.2-Q2 where Q.sub.1=—O— or —O—(CH.sub.2).sub.m—O—, Q.sub.2=-(-Q.sub.1-Si(CH.sub.3).sub.2—(O—Si(CH.sub.3).sub.2—).sub.n—O—Si(CH.sub.3).sub.2—).sub.p-Q.sub.3, Q.sub.3=—OH, —(CH.sub.2).sub.m—OH, —Si(OH).sub.3, or —(CH.sub.2).sub.m—Si(OH).sub.3, m=0 to 10, n=10 to 500, p=0 to 500, Q.sub.1=end of the PDMS polymer covalently bonded to the surface.

The invention relates to a lubricant coating (5) for a medical injection device (1), comprising successively: —a bottom layer (50) in contact with the medical device surface (21) of the container to be lubricated, comprising a mixture of cross-linked and non-cross-linked poly-(dimethylsiloxane), —an intermediate layer (51) consisting essentially of oxidized poly-(dimethylsiloxane) and having a thickness comprised between 10 and 30 nm and, —a top layer (52) consisting essentially of non-cross-linked poly-(dimethylsiloxane) and having a thickness of at most 2 nm. The invention also relates to a medical injection device comprising such a lubricant coating, and a manufacturing process for said coating.

A coating composition for applying a very thin film coating to a substrate such as a polymeric film comprises a copolymer such as a block copolymer (BCP) that is compatible with the substrate, an alcohol solvent or solvents capable of dissolving the copolymer, a hydrolysed metal alkoxide precursor, a carboxylic acid stabiliser, and an active agent in an ionic, molecular, or small nanoparticle form. The active agent is configured to provide a functionality to the coating composition, selected from antimicrobial, antifungal, barrier, therapeutic, electrical, electronic, magnetic and optical. The composition is a sol comprising a continuous non-sedimentable/stable suspension of very small sized (of nano order) amorphous inorganic polymers in their oligomeric or polymeric state, and comprising the active agent dispersed in a hydrolysed metal alkoxide-BCP matrix. Substrates coated with very thin coatings are also provided, including coated LDPE which is activated before coating by UV/ozone, plasma or corona treatment prior to deposition of a wetting layer.