Thin functional films were deposited on aluminum with an atmospheric pressure plasma jet using hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO) as precursor. A high dynamic deposition rate on the order of 450 nm · m · min−1 was achieved. Composition and structure of the thin films show a strong dependence on the downstream location of the precursor injection. A 4 mm downstream shift of the precursor injection increases the carbon content in the thin film by a factor of 2.5, as indicated by XPS analysis and alters the degree of cross‐linking according to the FTIR spectra. The coating with the low carbon content (17 at.‐%) provides corrosion resistance for aluminum 2024 unclad exposed for 96 h to a neutral salt spray test. The coating with the high carbon content reduces the adhesion of an epoxy resin to the surface and may be used as a release coating.

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Cover: A non‐equilibrium atmospheric pressure plasma jet is used to deposit plasma polymer films at high deposition rates on the order of 1000 nm·s−1. Possible applications are hydrophobic/low‐adhesion coatings or corrosion protective coatings. Further details can be found in the article by U. Lommatzsch* and J. Ihde .