Reply To: turn heat into electricity

[asymmetric_implosion]

The big problem with coating is the low temperature tolerance of the polymers. In most dense coating applications like you would need for a plasma focus insulator, you need to be coating at 300-400C. Kapton can’t survive it. CVD methods require high temp (>500C). PECVD can work at lower temp but you are coating a dielectric so charging is an issue. Energetic methods like cathodic arc can work, but the coating thickness is limited to ~100 um because of internal stress. ALD would do a beautiful job but it will take a lifetime to produce a coating of consequence. Other methods based upon atmoshperic pressure deposition are low density or require extreme temperature. Polymers are unlikely to survive explosive cladding. I can’t think of another type of coating method.