PVD coating process
Author: Robby
Vacuum ion plating is a process in which the plating material is evaporated and then ionised in a vacuum environment using high-pressure gas discharge and deposited on the surface of the product to form a coating. It belongs to one kind of physical vapor deposition (PVD) method, the main feature is that there is a low pressure plasma area between the evaporation source and the plated workpiece, by partially ionising the evaporated molecules (or atoms), increasing the speed and energy of the particles to reach the workpiece, so as to improve the deposition efficiency, the bonding of the film layer with the workpiece and the quality of the film layer.
The working principle of vacuum ion plating vacuum ion plating involves the following key steps: ion bombardment cleaning: the evaporation source connected to the anode, the workpiece connected to the cathode, through the high-voltage direct current, in the vacuum enclosure filled with inert gas (such as argon), part of the gas is ionised to form the plasma zone. Positively charged argon ions in the cathode under the attraction of negative high-pressure bombardment of the surface of the workpiece to remove the surface particles and dirt. Evaporation deposition: connected to the evaporation source of AC power, evaporation material particles melt evaporation and enter the glow discharge area is ionised. Positively charged evaporation material ions are attracted to the surface of the workpiece by the cathode, forming a layer of firmly adherent plating layer.
Characteristics and application areas of vacuum ion plating Vacuum ion plating has the following characteristics: Dense plated layer organisation: no pinholes, no bubbles, uniform thickness, suitable for plating of difficult to deal with parts such as internal holes, grooves and narrow seams on the compound parts.
Strong bonding force: the bonding force between the film and the workpiece is strong, and the fatigue life can be increased by 20%~30%.
Wide range of applications: suitable for the preparation of various wear-resistant, corrosion-resistant and decorative film layers, as well as optical, magnetic, microelectronic, superconducting and other functional films. Vacuum ion plating is widely used in daily necessities, handicrafts, aerospace and optical devices and other industrial fields, which can significantly improve the surface quality and physical and mechanical properties of products.