Survey on the channel spark coating method and applications in technique and medicine

Summary form only given. The principal benefits of the PED (Pulsed Electron Deposition, channel spark) coating method are the simplicity of the system itself and the excellent coating results as for instance conservation of stoichiometry even in complicated alkali-earth alkali compounds within 1% to 2% and growth rates up to 1 /spl Aring/ per shot (see Fig.1). Even plastic substrates and thin plastic foils can be coated. Since the initial capital and operational costs are low in comparison with PLD (Pulsed Laser Deposition), there is a wide field of actual and future applications of PED which are summarized in this presentation. Actual efforts are the development of High-Tc-Superconductor cables, production of Nanotubes, organic LEDs and the coating of metallic or plastic medical implants with bioactive glasses. Other applications are the coating of plastic foils with 100 nm barrier layers to reduce the permeation of gases. Related tasks are the coating of ink cartridges made of plastic with a glass layer to prevent drying out. Another field of application is the ablation of PE, Polystyrene, PTFE etc. for coating surfaces. Besides optical effects of aesthetic value, PTFE coatings have a low molecular weight, are soft and can be used as extra thin sealants (thickness 40-100 /spl mu/m) in chemical industry.