A high-technology method has been developed for deposition of ultrathin protective coatings based on ion plasma technology for preservation and long-term storage of historical and cultural monuments and archeological finds.
A method has been proposed to increase manufacturability of coatings deposited on porous metal workpieces and to improve the coating performance reliability. The method involves preservation of metal parts, comprising surface preparation; vacuum treatment of substrates at a pressure of 10-4 to10-6 GPa and at a temperature of 200OC to 600OC; saturation of substrate surface with organic and/or inorganic gaseous substances; and polymerization of gaseous substances in glow discharge plasma of direct or alternating current with no air admission. After plasma polymerization of gaseous substances, a protective organic polymer coating can be deposited additionally. The method allows metal workpieces of various compositions and having a great amount of pores and microcracks to be preserved for long storage. Plasma polymerization is a feasible method of coating deposition technology because it is carried out with no deterioration of vacuum. Gaseous substances possess a high penetration power as compared to polymer solutions, so they better fill in hard-to-reach pores and defects on the surface.
