Coating processes – Direct application of electrical – magnetic – wave – or... – Polymerization of coating utilizing direct application of...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-20
2001-06-05
Pianalto, Bernard (Department: 1762)
Coating processes
Direct application of electrical, magnetic, wave, or...
Polymerization of coating utilizing direct application of...
C427S237000, C427S238000, C427S255600, C427S491000, C427S494000, C427S496000, C427S535000, C427S536000, C427S569000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06242053
ABSTRACT:
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
The present invention pertains to a container with a coating that inhibits the passage of gaseous and/or liquid substances through the walls of the container, a process for its preparation, and a device for implementing the process.
Containers for storing and conserving gaseous and/or liquid substances are known in the art. Such containers preferably consist of glass or sheet metal sections or plastics, whereby the latter have the advantage (relative to the afore-mentioned materials) of a distinctly lower weight as well as higher resistance to environmental effects. A disadvantageous feature in the case of such plastic containers has proven to be the fact that, with respect to the plastic materials that are currently used, gas exchange takes place via diffusion between the substance present in the container and the outside of the container. The reason for this is that the plastics that are used permit the diffusion of gases such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, or water vapor as well as other volatile substances such as fuels or fragrances and perfumes. The desired long-term stability of the substance in the container is also not guaranteed, especially with the currently available plastic containers.
In order to internally coat hollow containers, consisting of plastic or metal, with inert impermeable glass-like layers, the suggestion is made in WO 95/21948 that inorganic substances be evaporated under vacuum in the interior of the hollow container under the action of a plasma, whereby a certain degree of heating of the container walls by the plasma is desired for better adhesion. A disadvantageous feature is the high expense, in terms of apparatus, for the application and movement of the source for the evaporator.
Alternatively, it is suggested in WO 95/22413 that layers of the same type be prepared in the interior of hollow containers, consisting of plastic or metal, via plasma polymerization, whereby the process pressures inside and outside the container should be controlled independently of one another. The two aforementioned processes have the objective, in particular, of coating the interior of hollow containers, whereby this is less desirable in the case of medicine containers or foodstuffs containers since the reactive behavior of the layers prepared in this way is still almost unknown with respect to the most widely differing contents.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,374,314, in contrast, a process is proposed for the external coating of hollow objects in which an electrical potential from an electrode, which is also arranged inside the hollow object, acts homogeneously on the interior of the hollow object by means of a first gas, which has been made electrically conductive, within the hollow object. As a result, a coating process is generated on the outside, which is assisted via the use of a second gas that contains charge carriers. However, a disadvantage is the expense, in terms of apparatus, for implementing the process, which is also considerable here.
It is therefore an object of the invention, is to have a container of this type with walls having a low permeability in comparison to known containers.
It is a further object of the invention to have a process for the preparation of such a container and a device for the implementation of the process.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In achieving the above and other objects, one feature of the invention resides in a container with at least one sealable opening and a layer, on the delineating surface of the container, that inhibits the passage of gaseous and liquid substances from the internal area of the container into the outer area and/or from the outer area into the inner area of the container, whereby the layer is prepared by means of a plasma-assisted coating process, preferably a plasma-chemical coating process, and whereby the layer is applied to the external surface of the container.
A further feature of the present invention resides in a container with at least one sealable opening and a layer, on the delineating surface of the container, that inhibits the passage of gaseous and liquid substances from the internal area of the container into the outer area and/or from the outer area into the inner area of the container, whereby the layer is prepared by means of a plasma-assisted coating process, preferably a plasma-chemical coating process, and whereby the layer is applied to the external surface of the container.
Yet another feature of the invention resides in a device for implementing the aforesaid process including a coating chamber capable of being evacuated and which has at least one sealable opening for bringing in and taking out the hollow object that is to be coated, at least one gas inlet for admitting process gas into the plasma process area and an antenna arrangement in order to feed electromagnetic radiation into the plasma process area by means of which the plasma gas is capable of being ignited and the plasma discharge is capable of being operated and whereby the internal area of the container is preferably capable of being sealed off by sealing elements in a gastight manner relative to the external area of the container.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4746538 (1988-05-01), Mackowski
patent: 5374314 (1994-12-01), Babacz
patent: 0 503 820 A1 (1992-09-01), None
patent: WO95/21948 (1995-08-01), None
patent: WO95/22413 (1995-08-01), None
Anderle Friedrich
Beckmann Rudolf
Dicken Wilfried
Grunwald Heinrich
Henrich Jurgen
Leybold Systems GmbH
Pianalto Bernard
Smith , Gambrell & Russell, LLP
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