Abstract

The invention provides a method of coating a surface 21 of a substrate 20, or of an article, of a material, such as glass, metal, ceramic, cloth or the like, with a colored film-like polymeric coating 22 consisting essentially of a plasma formed polymer matrix 23 containing therein particulates 24. The method comprises introducing plasma-polymerizable material through at least one conduit 30 into the interior region 14 of an appropriate apparatus 10, 35, or 39 in which region 14 there is maintained an electrical discharge conducive to plasma polymerize the introduced material and deposit it on surface 21 concurrently with a depositing therewith of the particulates 24, or color centers, of a size and in a distribution adapted through selective scattering and adsorption of light to provide a desired color while the substrate 20 contacts, or is, a cathode element 19 maintained at an electrical potential conducive for the depositing. Preferably the particulates are opaque and colloidal and provided by thermal evaporation employing a filament resistance heater 29, inductively heated evaporation source means 36, or an electron beam evaporator means 40.

Other References

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