Metallized coating

• US 4,803,094 A
• Filed: 05/09/1988
• Issued: 02/07/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wavezero Manufacturing, LLC
• Original Assignee: Richard A. Myers
• Inventors: Myers, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bueker, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): King, Roy V.
• Application Number:
  US07/191,920
• Time in Patent Office: 274 Days
• Field of Search: 427/38, 427/40, 427/124, 427/250, 118/715, 118/726
• US Class Current: 427/533
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 14/20 on organic substrates

Abstract

The invention is a method for the vapor deposition of a thin metal film onto a polymeric surface. The method comprises the steps of placing the polymeric surface within a vacuum chamber, and evacuating the chamber to a near-perfect vacuum. The chamber is next filled with argon gas. Sufficient voltage and amperage are applied to the argon gas within the chamber to electrically excite that gas, thereby creating a cloud of free argon electrons which prepare or impart a charge to the polymeric surface. The argon is then evacuated from the chamber, and the chamber is then placed at a suitable plating vacuum. The improvement in the present invention comprises the use of a metal yarn comprised of thin strands of that metal. A conventional electrode, such as a tungsten electrode, disposed within the chamber and wrapped with this yarn is energized sufficiently to rapidly vaporize the metal. The rapidly vaporized metal is transported towards and then coated onto the prepared, charged polymeric surface.

Claims

1. A method for the vapor deposition of a thin metal film onto a polymeric surface, comprising:

(a) placing said polymeric surface within a vacuum chamber;

(b) evacuating said vacuum chamber to a nearperfect vacuum;

(c) filling said chamber with argon gas;

(d) applying sufficient voltage and amperage to the argon gas in said chamber to electrically excite said argon gas, thereby creating a cloud of free argon electrons which prepares and imparts a charge to said polymeric surface;

(e) evacuating said argon from said chamber, and placing said chamber at a suitable plating vacuum;

(f) energizing an electrode disposed within said chamber and wrapped with a yarn comprised of a plurality of thin strands of said metal, said electrode being energized sufficiently to vaporize said metal, whereby said vaporized metal is transported towards and coated onto said prepared, charged polymeric surface.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said metal yarn is comprised of 316L-grade stainless steel.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said strands are of a diameter not exceeding 20 microns.

4. The method as set forth in claim 2, wherein each of said strands are of a diameter not exceeding 20 microns.

5. A method for the vapor deposition of a thin stainless steel film onto a polymeric surface, comprising:

(a) placing said polymeric surface within a vacuum chamber;

(b) evacuating said vacuum chamber to a near-perfect vacuum;

(c) filling said chamber with argon gas;

(d) applying sufficient voltage and amperage to the argon gas in said chamber to electrically excite said argon gas, thereby creating a cloud of free argon electrons which prepares and imparts a charge to said polymeric surface;

(e) evacuating said argon from said chamber, and placing said chamber at a suitable plating vacuum;

(f) energizing an electrode disposed within said chamber and wrapped with a 316L-grade stainless steel yarn comprised of a plurality of thin strands of said stainless steel, each of said strands having a diameter not exceeding 20 microns, said electrode being energized sufficiently to vaporize said stainless steel, whereby said vaporized stainless steel is transported towards and coated onto said prepared, charged polymeric surface.