PVD

Physical Vapor Deposition

Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) provides clean coating processes well suited for a variety of applications. Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) is a technology where a material is evaporated and condensed to form a thin film coating over an object (substrate). The coatings consist of metals or ceramics, such as nitrides, carbides, and oxides. Evaporation in PVD can be forced by several methods. The method Impact Coatings most commonly uses is magnetron sputtering, where the coating material is “blasted” from the target by a plasma. All PVD processes are performed under vacuum.

With the highly flexible PVD method, the thicknesses of the coatings can be varied from a few atomic layers to several µm. Allowing a wide range of coating materials and thicknesses, PVD can be custom-made for different applications. The coatings can be optimized for various characteristics and can provide electrical, mechanical, optical, and decorative properties.

In PVD, the substrate does not need to be metallic or electrically conductive, making it possible to coat non-metallic isolators, plastic and ceramic objects. The possibility of maintaining low process temperatures below 100°C (212F) further increases the number of applications.

PVD is used industrially in a wide spectrum of applications and is an eco-friendly technology in contrast to chemical and galvanic surface treatment methods. It is clean and dry, with no hazardous materials involved, and does not generate chemical waste or water pollution. Green PVD coatings e.g. address the controversial use of cyanide in plating baths for noble metals, and the use of hexavalent chromium for plating on plastic. The PVD method conforms to all environmental legislation and does not require environmental licenses.

The use of PVD is increasing rapidly in the industry to replace less environment-friendly chemical and galvanic methods. Impact Coatings’ technology can broaden the use of PVD to even more applications.

Photo Fuel Cell Plate
Photo Car interior

Application Areas

Hydrogen Solutions

Impact Coatings has supported the hydrogen industry with coating solutions for metal bipolar plates for more than a decade. PVD technology allows coatings optimized for durable performance at a low cost.

Metallization Solutions

Impact Coatings’ solutions for plastic metallization provide unique quality control and cost efficiency, required by modern manufacturing in the plastic and automotive industries.

Tailored Solutions

PVD is an effective and environmentally friendly method of modifying and improving surface features in terms of aesthetic appearance, mechanical properties, and durability.