Vacuum Coating Industry Development Overview

Vacuum coating is a physical vapor deposition process (PVD) in which a metal or metal compound is deposited onto the surface of a material (usually a non-metallic material) in the form of a vapor phase under a vacuum environment. It is also called vacuum metallization because the coating is often a thin metal film. Vacuum coating in a broader sense also includes the vacuum vapor deposition of non-metallic functional films such as polymers on the surface of metallic or non-metallic materials.

There are three forms of vacuum coating, namely, evaporation coating, sputtering coating and ion plating. Among them, the molecules of the evaporated material are ionized by electron collisions and deposited as ions on the solid surface, called ion plating. This technique was introduced by D. Metoks in 1963. Ion plating is a combination of vacuum evaporation and cathode sputtering techniques. Vacuum ion plating can be further divided into three types: arc ion plating, magnetron sputtering ion plating, and hollow cathode ion plating.

The functions of vacuum coating are multifaceted, which determines the richness of its applications. In general, the main functions of vacuum coating include giving the surface of the plated parts a high metallic luster and mirror effect, making the film layer on the thin film material with excellent barrier properties, providing excellent electromagnetic shielding and conductive effects. For example, imitation gold plating of watch cases, mechanical tool coating, etc.

The rapid development and widespread application of surface treatment is considered to be an important advance in the manufacturing field, with its practicality and high quality, high efficiency and low consumption features in the manufacturing and maintenance industry to occupy the market, and is steadily increasing trend. At present, there are hundreds of surface treatment technologies that are technically mature and put into practical industrial application. Surface processing technology is not only the key to ensure the internal quality of products, but also an important means of quality assurance of product appearance.

PVD technology moves into the mainstream

There are two main production methods used in the coating industry today, chemical vapour deposition, also known as chemical vapour deposition (CVD), and physical vapour deposition, also known as vacuum deposition (PVD). Chemical coating is a process in which vapour containing the gaseous or liquid reactants that make up the elements of a thin film and other gases required for the reaction are introduced into a reaction chamber where a chemical reaction occurs on the surface of the substrate to produce a thin film. In the process of chemical coating, it is easy to produce solution contamination, and if there are many impurities on the surface of the plated part, the plated result is not good. Chemical coating requires a high reaction temperature, generally controlled at around 1000°C, but many substrate materials are unable to withstand such high temperatures and their performance deteriorates. For example, if TiN is vapour deposited on a carbide tool, the carbon diffused from the substrate will react with the solution and form a decarburised layer, which has poor toughness and low flexural strength, resulting in a shorter tool life. The PVD technology solves the problem of solution contamination in chemical coating and does not produce toxic or polluting substances, resulting in a harder film, better wear and corrosion resistance, more stable performance, and the ability to produce a colourful film layer.

Therefore, from the technical development trend of the industry, plasma treatment and vacuum method will become the future direction of the industry technology development.

Environmental industry thrives on diversification of applications

The coating technology from heavy pollution to light pollution until the future of pollution-free, innovation is the premise, with the development of new energy efficient and environmentally friendly vacuum machinery and equipment will certainly change the entire industry. On the one hand, the trend in surface treatment technology is towards low energy consumption and non-polluting technology. It replaces traditional electroplating and chemical treatment methods, reduces the pollution produced by traditional process methods and protects the environment. On the other hand, the surface treatment technology can modify the surface of the object to be treated to enhance the wear resistance, corrosion resistance and smoothness of the surface of the object to be treated, which greatly reduces the loss and waste in the process of using the object to be treated and also plays a role in energy saving and environmental protection. The company that has mastered the advanced technology of low energy consumption and no pollution is able to occupy the market first.