PVD-coating / TiN-coating

The PVD / TiN-coating process is increasingly demanded by architects, product designers and a large number of other users.

Naturally, JSP being an expert when it comes to surface treatments, is focusing strongly on using this pvd process to predominantly coating stainless steel sheets and other having gained vast expertise with this technology.

Stainless steel PVD-coating – the PVD-coating process explained

In contrast to alternative coatings, for example galvanic processes, PVD-coating / TiN-coating uses no toxic or environmentally harmful substances.

Additionally, the extremely thin layers of the coating are very natural in their metallic and lively appearance, which distinguishes them decisively from alternatives such as wet painting, powder coating or anodized finishes.

Therefore, the PVD-coating process clearly proves to be an excellent method to coat the substrates. By the vapor deposition, not only are physical and technical advantages created, such as an increase in hardness or improvement in corrosion resistance, but also an optically high-quality refinement of these substrates
is achieved when coated with the thinner layers.

In the case of stainless steel PVD, for example, the colored surface coatings obtained with the PVD technology do not only protect the substrate, but also create fascinating metallic and optically extremely attractive shades, which range from champagne, yellow gold and brass to rose gold and bronze to anthracite and black.

Those fascinating colours, in combination with various basic surfaces, give the stainless steel an exclusive appearance and create brilliant examples of applications in architecture and product design for both indoors and outdoors.

What is PVD?

PVD is the process of Physical Vapor Deposition. The PVD / TiN-coating of large areas (sheets) is carried out with the help of ARC evaporation,
in which the “target material” in the form of a solid is brought to evaporation by means of an arc so that it can later be applied to the sheet or workpiece.

By adapting suitable reactive gases, different temperatures and other machine parameters, the chemical combination of metal and non-metal achieves different colors on the surface of the sheets or workpieces.

PVD-coating or TiN-coating: What is the difference?

As mentioned earlier, the abbreviation PVD, which refers to the English term “Physical Vapor Deposition” and also the term “TiN”, the abbreviation which derives
from the chemical compound titanium nitride (a hard metallic material made of titanium and nitrogen, typically of a golden yellow color), both define the same process of physical vapor deposition, and denote the same group of vacuum-based coating processes or thin-layer technologies.

As such, we will gladly advise you about these and other technical details as well as the possibilities JSP is able to offer when it comes to the PVD process.

PVD Processing

Here Are the Three Main Types of PVD Coating

1. Thermal Evaporation There are two types of thermal evaporation:

Pulsed laser deposition and electron beam deposition. Both processes use energy to evaporate a metal material (such as Titanium, Zirconium, Chromium, Aluminum, or Copper) into a vacuum. The vacuum then allows vapor articles to travel to the relatively cooler production parts where it will once again condense and crystallize into a thin, hardened, metal state. This PVD type is most commonly used in computer industry microfabrication or for products such as film packaging.

2. Sputter Deposition Two types of sputter deposition are currently used in manufacturing applications:

ion beam sputtering and magnetron sputtering. In the former, an ion beam directs a high electric field toward the surface of the material to be vaporized. This causes the metal vapor gases to ionize after which momentum transfer directs those ions toward the target production part. In magnetron sputtering, positively charged ions are accelerated by an electrical field and then superimposed onto the target parts. This process is commonly used in the medical industry for manufacturing lab products and optical films.

3. Arc Vapor Deposition (PVD coating) method at Bend Plating is arc vapor deposition

This process uses a low-voltage arc to evaporate metal source material into vaporized metal particles. These evaporated metal atoms combine with reactive gas molecules in a plasma state that once again condense on relatively cooler production parts in close proximity. Production parts spin on a multi-axis rack carousel to produce an evenly distributed lifetime coating in colors that include hues of black, bronze, gold, graphite, nickel, blue, purple, and “rainbow” combinations of more than one color. It is the most environmentally friendly method, and it results in a very thin (0.25 to 4.0 microns) hard metallic coating that is available in a wide variety of colors. PVD finish has a transparent quality that allows underlying chrome or polish to shine through.Matte and brushed metal finishes also receive PVD to lock in these desired physical appearances for a lifetime of corrosion, chemical, and scratch resistance.PVD can also be used on lower-cost or lighter weight base materials (including plastic and aluminum) and provide superior aesthetic looks, abrasion, and corrosion resistance.