Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
A process for the selective in situ conversion of a portion of a polymer film to a ceramic by selective irradiation of said film with a coherent or focused energy source, the quantum of energy imparted to said film being sufficient to effect rapid conversion of the film, in the irradiated areas, to the corresponding ceramic material, said process comprising: (a) providing a supportive substrate having bonded thereto a polymer film which has been formed by R.F. plasma vapor phase polymerization of at least one precursor compound of the formula: ##STR2## wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, aryl or alkyl of 1 to 5 carbon atoms; (b) selectively irradiating said polymer film with a coherent or focused energy source sufficient to effect rapid in situ conversion of the irradiated portions of the polymer film to a silicon based ceramic, the extent of such conversion of the film to ceramic being confined to the pattern of distribution of the energy within the film.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
A process for the selective in situ conversion of a portion of a polymer film to a ceramic by selective irradiation of said film with a coherent or focused energy source, the quantum of energy imparted to said film being sufficient to effect rapid conversion of the film, in the irradiated areas, to the corresponding ceramic material, said process comprising: (a) providing a supportive substrate having bonded thereto a polymer film which has been formed by R.F. plasma vapor phase polymerization of at least one precursor compound of the formula: ##STR2## wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, aryl or alkyl of 1 to 5 carbon atoms; (b) selectively irradiating said polymer film with a coherent or focused energy source sufficient to effect rapid in situ conversion of the irradiated portions of the polymer film to a silicon based ceramic, the extent of such conversion of the film to ceramic being confined to the pattern of distribution of the energy within the film.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the polymer film is formed of a monomer selected from the group consisting of hexaethylcyclotrisilazane, hexamethyldisilazane and tetramethylsilane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the pattern of laser distribution of conversion energy within the polymer film is in the form of a raster.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the conversion energy is provided by a laser, electron beam or X-ray bombardment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the energy source selected for such conversion process is a carbon dioxide laser.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the lapsed time between irradiation and conversion of a polymer film is insufficient to effect carbonization of the vaporizable constituents of the polymer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the supportive substrate is removed in those areas corresponding to conversion of a polymer film to ceramic material, thereby leaving a self-supporting ceramic.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the unexposed portions of the polymer film are selectively removed from the substrate without disturbing that portion of the film which has been selectively converted to ceramic material.