PVD coatings
Physical Vapour Deposition
PVD – which stands for Physical Vapour Deposition – is an environmentally friendly high-vacuum coating technology based on thin film deposition on different types of materials in the presence of a plasma.
During the process, in a vacuum chamber, various metals – such as titanium, zirconium and chromium – are vaporised and then condensed on the product surface, combining with the process gas to create the desired coating.
CAE: Cathodic Arc Evaporation Process
The Cathodic Arc Evaporation (CAE) process is the most widely used in PVD coatings. In these processes, an electric arc moves across the surface of the solid metal (target) causing the metal to sublimate.
The highly ionised evaporated metal combines with the process gas (in the form of plasma) to create a thin film deposit on products rotating in the vacuum chamber. The CAE target can be circular or rectangular.
MS technology: Magnetron Sputtering process
With MS technology, accelerated Argon ions impact on the solid metal (target) causing the material to evaporate through mechanical action.
Again, the evaporated metal can recombine with a process gas (in the form of a plasma) to create a thin film deposit on products rotating in the vacuum chamber (reactive sputtering).
There are several possible Magnetron Sputtering configurations, depending on the power source and magnetic field configuration:
- Balanced Magnetron Sputtering
- Unbalanced Magnetron Sputtering (UBM)
- Dual Magnetron Sputtering (DMS)
- RF Magnetron Sputtering
- HiPIMS (also DMS)
The target shape can be rectangular, planar, circular or even cylindrical.
Advantages of PVD coatings
PVD coating is particularly recommended for innovative high-quality products that require excellent chemical and technical characteristics (such as high hardness, abrasion resistance, scratch and corrosion resistance) and, at the same time, it offers a wide choice of colours.
There are two different families of coatings: Technical PVD coatings and Decorative PVD coatings.
Different colours and finishes
Extreme surface hardness (2500/3000 HV)
No alteration if exposed to UV light: 2400 hours (UNI 9397).
Resistant to solvents, acids or alkalis and anti-scale products
Maximum corrosion resistance
An environmentally friendly process
The thin-film deposition process is clean and environmentally friendly and does not use substances that are hazardous to humans.
No pollutants or toxic residues are produced during the entire manufacturing process.
Our machines for PVD treatment
Our PVD coating machines ensure high productivity, low costs and innovative solutions (Cathodic Arc, Magnetron Sputtering, Plasma Beam Source etc.) based on your needs.
