Vacuum metalizing
systems include different methods to deposit
layers of material atom-by-atom or molecule-by-molecule on a surface. The process is called
Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) since it is based on a
physical transformation: namely that of a coating metallic material from a
solid to a vapor state. The vacuum metalizing
can be performed using the processes of sputtering or evaporation.
In the sputtering
process, material is ejected from a
"target" that is a source onto a "substrate”. The sputtering gas is often argon ions in a vacuum chamber. The combination of the high energy gas ions with
the metal vapor forms a highly adherent coating, which settles on the target
surface. The result is a spotless, shiny and resistant metallic coating, 100% clean from any
contamination.
In the vacuum
evaporation process such as electron beam evaporation (ebeam evaporation), a
beam of electrons is directed at a target material causing that material to
melt and release vapors which in turn condense onto a substrate suspended above
the ebeam coating source. Alternatively,
an electrical resistance boat can be used to melt the material. Both of these processes are less energetic
than the sputtering process. Combining
ion beam plasma with evaporation (IBAD coating or Ion Beam Assisted Deposition)
can increase the energy of the evaporation process.
In addition to
metallic materials, sputtering and evaporation can be used to deposit
dielectric materials.
Vacuum metalizing is often the best answer to the needs of many
different industries.
Today, vacuum metalized coatings are used to finish a
great variety of products - from CDs and DVDs, to food packaging, just to
mention a few of the many metalized products for mass consumption. The manufacturing industry has welcomed the
use of PVD technology which has now been used for many years with great results
for vacuum
metalization of semiconductors, plastics and many other substrate types. Nowadays in-line vacuum metalizers integrate
vacuum metalizing and UV-cured coating in a single
automated process. Metalizing lines have
proven capable of significant improvements in production quality and
cohesiveness, while achieving significant targets of cost reduction, with a
lower carbon footprint. The numerous
advantages of vacuum metalizing have already persuaded the vast majority of
manufacturers to incorporate vacuum metalizing technology for their
applications.
