Patent ID: 7404983
Filing Date: 2008-07-29
Classification: C03C,C23C

Abstract:
1. A method of hermetically sealing articles by applying a coating comprising the steps of: providing an article to be hermetically sealed with a coating; expelling a stream of precursor gas, at ambient temperature, from a first conduit in a surface of a base thereby creating a first curtain of precursor gas; expelling a stream of non-reactive gas, at ambient temperature, from a second conduit in said surface of said base, whereby said stream of non-reactive gas at ambient temperature forms a second curtain of non-reactive gas that peripherally surrounds said first curtain of precursor gas at ambient temperature, said first conduit and second conduit having diameters such that the ratio of the diameter of said second conduit to said first conduit is between 8 and 14; moving said article relative to said first and second curtains so that said article passes through said second curtain, enters said first curtain at an entry point, passes through said first curtain, exits said first curtain at an exit point, and then passes through said second curtain, so that said first curtain at ambient temperature, which is peripherally surrounded by said second curtain at ambient temperature impinges against a segment of said article moving therethrough; laser heating said segment of said article moving through said first curtain, thereby heating and pyrolyzing a portion of said precursor gas in proximity to said segment of said article; and applying a solid coating formed from said pyrolyzed precursor gas onto said segment of said article, so as to form a coated section of said article that moves into and through said second curtain, said second curtain contacting and sufficiently cooling said coated section of said article cooling to prevent said coating thereon from burning upon exposure to air; each of said steps being performed in an open-air environment.