Technology

Surface engineering with PVD

Physical vapor deposition (PVD) is a family of clean coating processes used to deposit thin film materials for a variety of applications. In PVD, solid materials are vaporized under vacuum in coating chambers. The vaporized materials condense onto loaded objects, forming thin films. Deposited materials can be a wide range of metals and metal alloys, or ceramics, such as nitrides, carbides, and oxides.

The process typically involves techniques like magnetron sputtering, arc evaporation, and plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), often combined with initial plasma etching of the substrate surface.

PVD is chosen for its unique capabilities, coating quality, and environmental sustainability

PVD is a key surface treatment technology in large industries, including semiconductor, automotive, architectural hardware, food packaging, medtech, and optics. Compared with other coatings techniques, it provides unique surface engineering capabilities, and a wide selection of coating materials and thicknesses, enabling customization for different applications. Coatings can be designed for various characteristics to exhibit e.g. electrical, chemical, and decorative properties, with the capability to design thicknesses from a few nanometers up to a couple of micrometers. Deposition thickness rates vary depending on PVD process and coating material, but are typically in the 0.1 to 1 micrometer per minute range.

Operating within a vacuum environment ensures high-purity coatings, minimizing impurities and contaminants during film deposition. PVD processes yield coatings with excellent adhesion and high density. They can also be conducted at low temperatures, below 100°C (212F), ideal for coating temperature-sensitive substrates like plastics. With PVD, the substrate does not need to be metallic or electrically conductive and can be directly processed. Furthermore, direct control over deposition rates facilitates scalable production, ensuring coating thickness specifications are met while optimizing production throughput.

From an environmental perspective, PVD stands out as a safe and clean technology compared to chemical and galvanic surface treatments. It operates cleanly and dryly, avoiding hazardous materials and chemical waste, thus aligning with environmental legislation without necessitating additional environmental licenses.

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