An apparatus for coating at least a first plurality of articles each article thereof having at least a first surface to be coated wherein the coating is formed from a precursor material applied to the article of a substantially even thickness, said apparatus comprising: an emission source for directing emission elements towards the first surfaces of the plurality of articles, wherein the emission source is a neutral molecular hydrogen flux emission source and the emission elements are neutral molecular hydrogen, at least one first support member for supporting the first plurality of articles, wherein the first support member supports the first plurality of articles such that the first surface is exposed to the path of emission from said emission source; and a drive assembly for moving the first support member such that the first plurality of articles is moveable with respect to the path of emission from said emission source; wherein the first support member is generally elongate and extends normal to the path of emission and includes a first plurality of holders for retaining the first plurality of articles along the longitudinal axis of the first support member, wherein the first support member is radially offset from an axis of rotation which is parallel with the longitudinal axis of the first support member and wherein the first plurality of holders extend radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the first support member such that the first surface of the article is inclined at a first inclination to the path of emission from said emission source; and wherein the drive assembly rotates the first support about said axis of rotation such that the first plurality of articles is rotated within the path of the emission elements and such that the first surface of the articles is exposed to the emission elements from the emission source; whereby the neutral molecular hydrogen flux emission source directs a flux of neutral molecular hydrogen towards the support member such that, upon impact of neutral hydrogen molecules on molecules at or on the surface of an article, bonds between elements of the molecules at or on the surface of the article are selectively ruptured; and wherein the selectively ruptured bonds cross-link with themselves or with other chemical moieties at said surface resulting in a change in surface properties, or a combination thereof; and wherein the selectively ruptured bonds cross-link with themselves or with other chemical moieties of the precursor material at said surface resulting in a change in surface properties, or a combination thereof as to provide a coating on the article formed from the precursor material and is of a substantial uniform thickness. an emission source for directing emission elements towards the first surfaces of the plurality of articles, wherein the emission source is a neutral molecular hydrogen flux emission source and the emission elements are neutral molecular hydrogen, at least one first support member for supporting the first plurality of articles, wherein the first support member supports the first plurality of articles such that the first surface is exposed to the path of emission from said emission source; and a drive assembly for moving the first support member such that the first plurality of articles is moveable with respect to the path of emission from said emission source; wherein the first support member is generally elongate and extends normal to the path of emission and includes a first plurality of holders for retaining the first plurality of articles along the longitudinal axis of the first support member, wherein the first support member is radially offset from an axis of rotation which is parallel with the longitudinal axis of the first support member and wherein the first plurality of holders extend radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the first support member such that the first surface of the article is inclined at a first inclination to the path of emission from said emission source; and wherein the drive assembly rotates the first support about said axis of rotation such that the first plurality of articles is rotated within the path of the emission elements and such that the first surface of the articles is exposed to the emission elements from the emission source; whereby the neutral molecular hydrogen flux emission source directs a flux of neutral molecular hydrogen towards the support member such that, upon impact of neutral hydrogen molecules on molecules at or on the surface of an article, bonds between elements of the molecules at or on the surface of the article are selectively ruptured; and wherein the selectively ruptured bonds cross-link with themselves or with other chemical moieties at said surface resulting in a change in surface properties, or a combination thereof; and wherein the selectively ruptured bonds cross-link with themselves or with other chemical moieties of the precursor material at said surface resulting in a change in surface properties, or a combination thereof as to provide a coating on the article formed from the precursor material and is of a substantial uniform thickness.