JPH11106920A - Container and its production - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a container which has excellent wear resistance and lubricity to other articles and further, has an excellent gas barrier property by forming a carbon film having the wear resistance, the lubricity and the gas barrier property in part or the whole of a container surface. SOLUTION: DLC(diamond-like carbon) films F are formed by a plasma enhanced CVD method on the contact surfaces (both of the inside surface in contact with a piston and the outside surface in contact with another article) S1 of, for example, a syringe cylinder substrate S1. The DLC films having the good lubricity and are hardly wearable by friction with other articles. The films are formable to the extent of not impairing the flexibility intrinsic to the substrate even if the substrate has the flexibility like that of org. materials by adjusting the thickness thereof. The films have adequate hardness and have the good barrier property. Since the transmission of light is made possible by adjusting the thickness thereof, the contents are made visible even if the films are formed on the container surface. Further, the easy execution of deposition, such as formation at a relatively low temp. is made possible.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to various types of containers, such as gasoline, tanks for chemicals, etc., sealable containers such as beverages, seasonings, cosmetics containers, etc. Openable and closable containers used for packaging, beverage packs such as milk, retort packs for long-term preservation of food, individual packs for food, packs used for sealing such as drip packs, etc., and further, for example, syringes Cylinder, bucket, pen stand, stationery tray,
The present invention relates to various containers such as kitchen containers and a method for producing them.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, resins such as polyethylene and polystyrene are frequently used as materials for tanks for storing gasoline, chemicals and the like, and containers for storing beverages, seasonings, cosmetics, and the like. These resins are advantageous in that they are lightweight and have excellent impact resistance. In addition, such a resin is used also as a material of an openable and closable container used for preservation of foods and the like in general households because it is flexible and can be highly sealed.

[0003] In addition, beverage packs such as milk packs include:
Laminated films obtained by laminating a polyethylene film and paper are often used. In addition, materials for packs such as retort packs, individual wrapping packs, and drip packs for long-term storage of foods include polyethylene, polypropylene,
Resins such as cellophane are used. Each resin material has its strengths and weaknesses in mechanical and thermal properties such as tensile strength, heat resistance, gas barrier properties, etc.Therefore, a laminated film that compensates for defects of each material by bonding two or more films together Used.

[0004] Glass cylinders have been used for syringes. However, since the glass fragments are easily mixed into a chemical solution, the cylinders have been replaced with resin cylinders such as polyethylene and polystyrene. In addition, such a resin that is lightweight and excellent in impact resistance is also used as a material for containers such as buckets, stationery containers, kitchen containers, and the like.

[0005]

However, containers such as resin tanks, containers for beverages, and containers for storing food are relatively soft, so that they are worn or scratched by contact with other articles. Easy to do. In addition, abrasion is more likely to occur due to poor sliding with other articles. In these containers, in order to improve lubricity with other articles and to prevent abrasion and deterioration due to contact with them, depending on the use of the container, a lubricant is applied to the outer surface within a range that does not hinder safety. May be applied or a lubricant may be impregnated.However, even if relatively good desired characteristics can be obtained at the start of use in such a method, the lubricant on the surface is dispersed in other parts over time. Or less due to absorption, falling off, lubricity, and surface wear and deterioration. Also,
If used for a long period of time, the quality of the lubricant may change and the container may be discolored or the strength may be deteriorated.

In addition, resinous materials have poor gas barrier properties, that is, they easily pass through oxygen, carbon dioxide, water vapor, vapors of organic solvents, etc., so that the contents such as volatilization of the contents, oxidation of the contents, odor transfer, etc. There is a disadvantage that deterioration easily occurs. Further, in the case of a food pack, when a laminated film with paper is used, the gas barrier property is poor, and the deterioration of the contents becomes a problem. When a laminate film of two or more resin films is used, desired properties are more easily obtained than when a single resin film is used, but the cost is high.
Also, compared to glass containers, etc., wear resistance, lubricity,
Gas barrier properties are not sufficient.

[0007] A resin syringe cylinder is softer than a glass cylinder and has poor lubricity with a seal material at the tip of the piston, so that it is easily worn by sliding with the piston. Is difficult to move. Also, containers such as resin buckets, stationery, kitchen containers, etc. are relatively soft, and thus are easily worn or scratched by contact with other articles. In addition, abrasion is more likely to occur due to poor sliding with other articles. Even in these containers, in order to improve lubricity with other articles and prevent wear and deterioration due to contact with them, lubricant may be applied to the outer surface or lubricant may be penetrated. In such a method, even when relatively good desired characteristics are obtained at the start of use, lubricity decreases with time, and surface wear and deterioration tend to occur. In addition, if used for a long time, the lubricant may deteriorate and the container may be colored or the strength may be deteriorated.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a container excellent in abrasion resistance and lubricity with other articles, and further excellent in gas barrier properties, and a method of manufacturing the same.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is characterized in that a carbon film having abrasion resistance, lubricity and gas barrier properties is formed on part or all of the surface. Provide a container. Further, the present invention provides a method for producing a container, comprising a step of forming a carbon film having abrasion resistance, lubricity and gas barrier properties on part or all of the surface.

[0010] The "surface" includes both the outer surface and the inner surface of the container. The containers are roughly classified into a closed container and an open container. Closed container holds objects,
It can be closed and stored, transported, and opened when using the contents.It can be opened and closed repeatedly, and it contains and stores objects and can be opened when using the contents. It can be broadly divided into disposable closed containers that are thrown away. As a closed-type container that can be repeatedly opened and closed, tanks for storing gasoline, chemicals, etc., beverages, seasonings,
Containers for accommodating cosmetics and the like, containers for accommodating foods, foods, and the like in general households, cafeterias, restaurants, and the like can be given. Examples of the disposable closed container include a drink pack for storing a drink such as milk, a retort pack for long-term storage of food, a pack for individual food packaging for selling food, and a drip pack. . As the open container, a syringe cylinder,
Examples include buckets, various kitchen and kitchen containers, writing implement stands, and stationery containers such as trays for stationery.

In the container according to the present invention, since a carbon film having abrasion resistance and lubricity is formed on a part or the entire surface of the container base, the part has good slippage with other articles, and Wear and scratches are unlikely to occur due to friction and contact with other articles. Further, since the carbon film is hard to be worn, good lubricity is maintained for a long time. In addition, since the carbon film has a gas barrier property, according to the present invention, particularly in a closed container, it is difficult for gas to permeate from outside to inside or from inside to outside in the carbon film forming portion of the container, Volatilization and alteration of the contents are suppressed.

A part or all of the surface of the container substrate may be a contact surface with another article, an outer surface, or the like, depending on the purpose of forming the carbon film. Depending on the container, a film may be formed on the inner surface as needed. It is conceivable that at least the film-forming surface of the substrate of the container in the present invention is made of at least one organic material selected from a resin and a rubber.

In this case, the rubber includes natural rubber, butyl rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, chloroprene rubber,
Examples thereof include chlorinated polyethylene rubber, epichlorohydrin rubber, acrylic rubber, nitrile rubber, urethane rubber, silicone rubber, and fluoro rubber. In addition, as the resin, any of a thermosetting resin and a thermoplastic resin can be adopted, and as the thermosetting resin, phenol / formaldehyde resin, urea resin, melamine / formaldehyde resin, epoxy resin, furan resin, xylene resin, unsaturated resin Examples thereof include a polyester resin, a silicone resin, and a diallyl phthalate resin.

As the thermoplastic resin, vinyl resins (polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl dichloride, polyvinyl butyrate,
Polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl formal, etc.), polyvinylidene chloride, chlorinated polyether, polyester resin (polystyrene, styrene / acrylonitrile copolymer, etc.), ABS, polyethylene,
Polypropylene, polyacetal, acrylic resin (polymethyl methacrylate, modified acrylic, etc.), polyamide resin (nylon 6, 66, 610, 11, etc.), cellulose resin (ethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate, propyl cellulose, cellulose acetate / butyrate, nitric acid) Cellulose, etc.), polycarbonate, phenoxy resin, fluorine resin (ethylene trifluoride, ethylene tetrafluoride,
Resins such as ethylene tetrafluoride / hexafluoropropylene and vinylidene fluoride), and polyurethane.

A typical example of the carbon film in the present invention is a DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) (diamond-like carbon) film. The DLC film has good lubricity, is hard to be worn due to friction with other articles, and can be adjusted to a thickness so that the base material has flexibility. It is a carbon film having an appropriate hardness that can be reduced to the extent that the properties are not impaired. Further, the gas barrier property is good. Further, since light can be transmitted by adjusting the thickness, the contents can be seen even when formed on the surface of the container. Further, the film can be easily formed, for example, the film can be formed at a relatively low temperature.

In any case, the thickness of the carbon film can be formed on the substrate with good adhesion and can sufficiently function as a protective film for the substrate, and even when the substrate is flexible. What is necessary is just to be in the range which does not impair the original flexibility. Further, in the method for manufacturing a container according to the present invention, prior to the formation of the carbon film, as a pre-treatment, a film-forming surface of each of the substrates is pre-treated with a pre-treatment gas, for example, a fluorine (F) -containing gas, hydrogen (H ₂ ). Exposure to plasma of at least one pretreatment gas selected from a gas and an oxygen (O ₂ ) gas may be considered.

As the fluorine-containing gas, fluorine (F
₂ ) gas, nitrogen trifluoride (NF ₃ ) gas, sulfur hexafluoride (SF ₆ ) gas, carbon tetrafluoride (CF ₄ ) gas, silicon tetrafluoride (SiF ₄ ) gas, disilicon hexafluoride ( Si ₂
F ₆ ) gas, chlorine trifluoride (ClF ₃ ) gas, hydrogen fluoride (HF) gas and the like. By exposing each of the substrates to the plasma of the pretreatment gas, the substrate surface is cleaned or the substrate surface roughness is further improved. These contribute to improving the adhesion of the carbon film,
A highly adherent carbon film can be obtained.

When the film-forming surface of the container substrate is made of an organic material such as rubber or resin, when the fluorine-containing gas plasma is used, the surface of the substrate is terminated with fluorine and the hydrogen gas plasma is used. As a result, the substrate surface is terminated with hydrogen. Since the fluorine-carbon bond and the hydrogen-carbon bond are stable, by performing the termination treatment as described above, the carbon atoms in the film form a stable bond with the fluorine atoms or the hydrogen atoms on the substrate surface portion. From these facts, it is possible to improve the adhesion between the carbon film formed thereafter and the substrate.

Further, when oxygen gas plasma is employed, dirt such as organic substances adhering to the surface of the substrate can be particularly efficiently removed, and from these facts, the adhesion between the carbon film formed thereafter and the substrate can be improved. Can be. In the method of the present invention, the pretreatment of the substrate with the plasma performed prior to the formation of the carbon film may be performed a plurality of times using the same type of plasma or using different types of plasma. For example, when the film forming surface of the container substrate is made of an organic material such as rubber or resin, the substrate is exposed to oxygen gas plasma, and then exposed to fluorine-containing gas plasma or hydrogen gas plasma to form a carbon film thereon. In this case, after the surface of the substrate is cleaned, the surface is terminated with fluorine or hydrogen, and the adhesion between the carbon film formed thereafter and the surface of the substrate becomes very good.

The method of forming a carbon film according to the present invention includes a method of forming a film in a temperature range that does not cause thermal damage to a substrate using at least a material having relatively low heat resistance such as rubber or resin as a material of the film forming surface. As a method that can be formed, a plasma CVD method, a sputtering method, an ion plating method, and the like can be given. In particular, when the plasma CVD method is used, the pretreatment of the substrate to be formed with plasma and the formation of the carbon film are the same. It can be done with the device.

A carbon film is formed by a plasma CVD method.
In this case, the plasma source gas is generally used for carbon film formation.
Methane used (CH_Four), Ethane (C_TwoH₆),
Lopin (C_ThreeH₈), Butane (C_FourH_Ten),acetylene
(C_TwoH_Two), Benzene (C ₆H₆) Carbon tetrafluoride
(CF_Four), Dicarbon hexafluoride (C_TwoF₆) Etc.
Gas and, if necessary, these carbon compound gases
Hydrogen gas, inert gas, etc. were mixed as carrier gas
Can be used.

When a carbon film is formed by a plasma CVD method, a DLC film is formed when the film forming pressure is set to about 100 mTorr and the film forming temperature is set to 100 ° C. or less. As the film formation temperature is increased, the hardness of the formed film is improved,
Above ° C, a carbon film with very excellent wear resistance is formed. At 900 ° C. or higher, a diamond film is formed. In the method for producing a container according to the present invention, when the container is a container formed by assembling a planar material such as a film such as various packs, the container is assembled after forming a carbon film on the film or the like. Alternatively, after assembling as a container, a carbon film may be formed on its outer surface or the like.

[0023]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an example of a film forming apparatus that can be used for manufacturing a container according to the present invention. FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of one example of the container (cylinder of a syringe) according to the present invention, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of another example of the container according to the present invention (tank). .

The apparatus shown in FIG. 1 has a vacuum chamber 1 provided with an exhaust device 11, in which an electrode 2 and an electrode 3 are provided at a position facing the electrode. The electrode 3 is grounded, and a high frequency power supply 23 is connected to the electrode 2 via a matching box 22. Further, the electrode 2 is provided with a heater 21 for heating the substrate on which the film is to be formed to a film forming temperature. Further, the chamber 1 is provided with a gas supply unit 4 so that a plasma source gas can be introduced therein. The gas supply unit 4 includes mass flow controllers 411, 412,.
., 432... Connected via 1, 422,.

In manufacturing an open container (in this case, a syringe cylinder) according to the present invention using this apparatus, the cylinder base S1 is arranged on the electrode 2 and the inside of the chamber 1 is operated by operating the exhaust device 11. A predetermined degree of vacuum is set.
Next, one or more of a fluorine-containing gas, a hydrogen gas, and an oxygen gas are introduced into the chamber 1 from the gas supply unit 4 as a pretreatment gas, and high-frequency power is supplied from the high-frequency power source 23 to the electrode 2 via the matching box 22. An electric power is supplied, thereby converting the introduced pretreatment gas into plasma, and processing the contact surface (here, both the inner surface and the outer surface) S1 ′ of the substrate S1 with another article under the plasma. Do. Note that this surface treatment (pretreatment) is desirably performed, but is not necessarily required. Here, the cylinder base has an opening large enough to form a film also on its inner peripheral surface.

Next, if necessary, the inside of the chamber 1 is evacuated again, and then a carbon compound gas is introduced from the gas supply unit 4 into the chamber 1 as a raw material gas for film formation. Is supplied, whereby the introduced carbon compound gas is turned into plasma, and a carbon film is formed on the contact surface (here, both the inner surface and the outer surface) S1 'of the substrate S1 with another article under the plasma. I do. During the substrate surface treatment and the film formation, the substrate S1 is rotated around its axis by rotating means (not shown), and the surface treatment and the film formation are performed substantially uniformly on the entire inner surface and outer surface of the substrate S1. To do.

In this manner, as shown in FIG. 2A, the contact surface of the cylinder base S1 with another article (both the inner surface in contact with the piston and the outer surface in contact with other articles other than the piston). 3.) A carbon film-coated cylinder having a carbon film F formed on S1 'is obtained. Further, in manufacturing the closed container (in this case, the tank shown in FIG. 2B) according to the present invention using this apparatus, the outer surface S2 ′ of the tank body S2 is formed in the same manner as in the manufacture of the cylinder. The surface treatment and film formation are performed. However, the outer surface S2 'of the base S2
In order to perform surface treatment and film formation substantially uniformly on the substrate S2,
Instead of rotating the substrate, the substrate is subjected to the surface treatment twice, and then the film is formed twice. The second surface treatment and the film formation are performed on the surface which was difficult to be exposed to the plasma in the first time. The orientation of the substrate is changed so that the substrate is exposed to the plasma. Also in this case, it is desirable to perform a surface treatment (pretreatment), but it is not always necessary.

In this manner, as shown in FIG. 2B, a carbon film-coated tank having the carbon film F formed on the outer surface S2 'of the tank substrate S2 is obtained. In carrying out the method of the present invention, the film forming apparatus shown in FIG. 3 can be used instead of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1. In this case, even when the substrate is a three-dimensional structure, the surface of the substrate can be efficiently placed on the substrate. A film can be formed.

The apparatus shown in FIG. 3 is an inductively coupled plasma CV.
D device, which has a vacuum container 1 ′, and an induction coil electrode 5 is wound around the outer periphery of the container 1 ′, and a matching box 51 and a high-frequency power supply 52 are provided at both ends of the electrode 5.
Is connected. A heater 21 ′ for heating the substrate on which the film is to be formed to a film forming temperature is provided outside the vacuum vessel 1 ′.

An evacuation device 11 ′ is connected to the vacuum vessel 1 ′, and a gas supply unit 4 for a source gas for film formation is provided.
'Is connected. The gas supply unit 4 ′ includes mass flow controllers 411 ′, 412 ′,.
, 432 ',... Connected to each other through one or more plasma source gases 431', 432
It is included.

The production of the container according to the present invention using this apparatus is performed in the same manner as the surface treatment of the cylinder base S1 and the tank base S2 and the formation of the carbon film using the apparatus shown in FIG. The conversion is performed by supplying high frequency power to the induction coil electrode 5. Also in this case, surface treatment (pretreatment) is desirably performed, but is not necessarily required.

Next, an embodiment in which a DLC film is formed on the surfaces of a syringe cylinder and a tank using the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 will be described. Example 1 In the above-described production of a cylinder using the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, a DLC film was formed directly on the inner surface and the outer surface of the substrate without performing the pretreatment of the substrate with the pretreatment gas plasma.

Cylinder Substrate Material Polycarbonate Size Outer Diameter 30 mm (Inner Diameter 26 mm) × 100 mm High Frequency Electrode 2 Size Diameter 280 mm Deposition Conditions Deposition Material Gas Methane (CH ₄ ) 50 sccm High Frequency Power Frequency 13.56 MHz, 150 W Deposition Pressure 0. 1 Torr Film forming time 60 min Film forming temperature 25 ° C. Example 2 Prior to the film forming, the substrate was subjected to a pretreatment with hydrogen gas plasma under the following conditions before film formation. The film forming conditions were the same as in Example 1.

Pretreatment Conditions Pretreatment Gas Hydrogen (H ₂ ) 100 sccm High Frequency Power Frequency 13.56 MHz, 300 W Processing Pressure 0.1 Torr Processing Time 5 min Example 3 In Example 1, prior to film formation, Pretreatment with a fluorine compound gas plasma was performed under the conditions. The film forming conditions were the same as in Example 1.

Pretreatment Conditions Pretreatment Gas Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF ₆ ) 100 sccm High Frequency Power Frequency 13.56 MHz, 300 W Processing Pressure 0.1 Torr Processing Time 5 min Example 4 In Example 1, prior to film formation, Was subjected to a first pretreatment with oxygen gas plasma under the following conditions, and further subjected to a second pretreatment with hydrogen gas plasma. The film forming conditions were the same as in Example 1.

First Pretreatment Condition Pretreatment Gas Oxygen (O ₂ ) 100 sccm High Frequency Power Frequency 13.56 MHz, 300 W Treatment Pressure 0.1 Torr Treatment Time 5 min Second Pretreatment Condition Pretreatment Gas Hydrogen (H ₂ ) 100 sccm High Frequency Power frequency 13.56 MHz, 300 W Processing pressure 0.1 Torr Processing time 5 min Example 5 In Example 1, prior to film formation, the substrate was subjected to the first pretreatment with oxygen gas plasma under the following conditions, and further a fluorine compound A second pretreatment with gas plasma was performed. The film forming conditions were the same as in Example 1.

First Pretreatment Condition Pretreatment Gas Oxygen (O ₂ ) 100 sccm High Frequency Power Frequency 13.56 MHz, 300 W Treatment Pressure 0.1 Torr Treatment Time 5 min Second Pretreatment Condition Pretreatment Gas Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF ₆ 100 sccm High frequency power Frequency 13.56 MHz, 300 W Processing pressure 0.1 Torr Processing time 5 min Example 6 In the manufacture of the tank using the apparatus of FIG.
The DLC film was formed directly on the outer surface of the substrate without performing the pretreatment of the substrate with the pretreatment gas plasma.

Tank base material Polypropylene Size 300 mm × 400 mm × Height 200 mm High-frequency electrode 2 size 600 mm square Deposition conditions Deposition material gas Methane (CH ₄ ) 50 sccm High-frequency power Frequency 13.56 MHz, 150 W Deposition pressure 0.1 Torr Next, a DLC film-coated cylinder obtained in Example 1 above, a cylinder substrate impregnated with a lubricant (Comparative Example 1), and a DLC film-coated tank obtained in Example 6 The coefficient of friction with the aluminum material was evaluated for the tank substrate (Comparative Example 2) impregnated with the lubricant. The coefficient of friction was determined by contacting the tip of a pin-shaped article made of aluminum with a tip curvature R of 18 mm against the article surface, and applying a load of 10 g to the pin-shaped article.
The value at the time of moving at a speed of sec was measured. The results are shown in the following table.

Coefficient of friction After 1 rub After 1000 rubs Example 1 2.64 2.66 Comparative Example 1 3.50 10.4 Example 6 1.22 1.35 Comparative Example 2 3.40 6.8 Comparative Examples 1 and 2 in which a lubricant was impregnated into a substrate
Although the friction coefficient was relatively small immediately after the start of friction,
After 000 rubs, the coefficient of friction increased. On the other hand, in Examples 1 and 6 of the present invention, no increase in the friction coefficient was observed even after 1000 times of friction, and good lubricity was maintained.

The DLC obtained in Example 1 was used.
Film-coated cylinder, untreated cylinder substrate with no film formed (Comparative Example 3), DL obtained in Example 6 above
The Knoop hardness was measured for the C film-coated tank and the untreated tank substrate on which no film was formed (Comparative Example 4). As for the Knoop hardness, in Examples 1 and 6, 2 g Knoop hardness was measured, and in Comparative Examples 3 and 4, 0.5 g Knoop hardness was measured. The results are shown in the following table.

[0041] Thus, in the cylinder of Example 1 of the present invention and the tank of Example 6 in which the DLC film was formed, the cylinder substrate of Comparative Example 3 and the Example 4 which were not coated with the DLC film, respectively.
It can be seen that the hardness is higher than that of the tank substrate.

The adhesion of the DLC film-coated cylinders obtained in Examples 1 to 4 was evaluated. The film adhesion was measured by dividing the film formed on the substrate into squares of 1 mm square, JIS tape peeling test method (mesh method) for examining how much of the film was peeled after applying a tape to 100 of them. Was evaluated. The results are shown in the following table.

[0043] As described above, in Examples 2 to 4 in which the pretreatment with the plasma was performed on the substrate surface prior to the formation of the DLC film, the film adhesion was higher than in Example 1 in which the pretreatment was not performed.

Further, a polycarbonate test piece (plate shape) having the same thickness as the cylinder substrate used in Example 1 was used.
In which a DLC film was formed under the same conditions as in Example 1
The moisture permeability (water vapor transmission rate) and the oxygen transmission rate of the C film-coated test piece and the untreated test piece were measured, respectively.
The moisture permeability was measured using a gas permeability measuring device manufactured by Mocon.
At a temperature of 25 ° C., the relative humidity of one space of the test piece is 1
00%, and the relative humidity of the other space of the test piece is almost 0%.
Was evaluated by measuring the permeation rate of water vapor.
Similarly, the oxygen permeability was measured using a gas permeability measuring device manufactured by Mocon, at a temperature of 25 ° C., the oxygen concentration in one space of the test piece was set to 100%, and the oxygen concentration in the other space of the test piece was measured. Was set to 0%, and the oxygen permeation rate was measured to evaluate. The results are shown in the following table.

Moisture permeability Oxygen permeability (cc / m ² / day) (cc / m ² / day) DLC film coated test piece 0.9 1.2 Untreated test piece 12.5 14.0 It can be seen that in the test piece coated with the DLC film, permeation of both water vapor and oxygen was suppressed as compared with the test piece not coated with the DLC film. Here,
The gas permeability (gas barrier property) of the cylinder made of polycarbonate was evaluated. Similarly, the gas barrier property of a closed container such as a tank is improved by forming a DLC film.

From the above, it can be seen that the container of the present invention in which a carbon film (particularly a DLC film) is formed on part or all of the surface is excellent in lubricity, abrasion resistance and gas barrier properties in that part. As for lubricity, if the lubricating property of the container is poor with other articles, contact and friction with other articles is likely to cause wear and deterioration. It can be said that the carbon film-coated container of the present invention having excellent lubricity has practically sufficient lubricity.

It can also be seen that the carbon film formed after the pre-treatment has excellent adhesion.

[0048]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a container excellent in abrasion resistance and lubricity with other articles, and further excellent in gas barrier properties, and a method for producing the same.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an example of a film forming apparatus that can be used for manufacturing a container according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 (A) is a cross-sectional view of one example of the container according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 (B) is a cross-sectional view of another example of the container according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of another example of a film forming apparatus that can be used for manufacturing a container according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1 'Vacuum chamber 11, 11' Exhaust device 2 High frequency electrode 21, 21 'Heater 22, 51 Matching box 23, 52 High frequency power supply 3 Ground electrode 4, 4' Plasma raw material gas supply part 5 Induction coil electrode S1 Container (cylinder) ) Base S1 'Contact surface of base S1 with other articles S2 Container (tank) base S2' Outer surface of base S2 F Carbon film

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A container characterized in that a carbon film having abrasion resistance, lubricity and gas barrier properties is formed on part or all of the surface. 2. The container according to claim 1, wherein said carbon film is a DLC film. 3. The container according to claim 1, wherein the film forming surface of the substrate of the container is made of an organic material. 4. A method for producing a container, comprising a step of forming a carbon film having abrasion resistance, lubricity and gas barrier properties on part or all of the surface. 5. Prior to the formation of the carbon film, as a pre-treatment, a film-forming surface of the substrate of the container is at least one selected from a fluorine (F) -containing gas, a hydrogen (H ₂ ) gas and an oxygen (O ₂ ) gas. The method for producing a container according to claim 4, wherein the container is exposed to a plasma of one kind of gas. 6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the carbon film is formed by a plasma CVD method. 7. The method according to claim 4, wherein the carbon film is a DLC film.
7. The method for producing a container according to 5 or 6. 8. The method for manufacturing a container according to claim 4, wherein the film-forming surface of the substrate of the container is made of an organic material.