Patent ID: 6242053
Filing Date: 2001-06-05
Classification: B05D,C03C,C23C,H01J,H05H

Abstract:
A process for coating the outer surface of a hollow object by means of plasma coating, via the action of plasma on the outer surface of the hollow object that is to be coated, comprising:a) introducing the hollow object to be coated into a coating chamber which is capable of being evacuated;b) sealing, then evacuating the coating chamber;c) admitting a plasma process gas or a process gas mixture into a plasma process area within said coating chamber, wherein a gas pressure provided for igniting and operating the plasma is set up for carrying out coating in the region of the outer surface that is to be coated, while a gas pressure inside said hollow object is controlled so that plasma ignition is prevented, wherein the pressure within the hollow object is in the range of 900-1100 mbar and the pressure in said plasma process area is in the range of 0.005-50 mbar;d) igniting the plasma and maintaining the plasma discharge by feeding electromagnetic radiation into the plasma process area for a predetermined period of time, to thereby deposit a polymer layer on a surface of said hollow object that is to be coated, wherein the polymer layer inhibits the passage through a wall of said hollow object of gaseous and/or liquid substances that are to be introduced into said hollow object; ande) switching off the electromagnetic radiation, then ventilating the coating chamber in order to remove the hollow object which has been coated with said polymer layer.