What is a Thin Film Vacuum Coating?

Summary: Many products we use daily are coated in thin chemical films.

When you see something that has been anodized, you can bet that it has gone through some kind of thin film deposition system. Thin films make lots of our current technology possible, and the PVD coating equipment used to apply these films have become an important part of advanced manufacturing. What they are, and how they work, depend a lot on the kind of system used.

Chemical Makeup

Coatings come in two basic varieties: chemical and metallic. There are other variations, but most processes bond either chemicals or metals to a substance. So depending on the chemicals in question, the expectation is very different. For example, anti-glare lens coatings are a thin film that consist of chemicals designed to resist glare.

The Coating Mechanism

A PVD system breaks down a chemical that is meant to coat an object, usually called the substrate. This can mean that intense heat is used to break a solid form into a gas. Once that transition occurs, the molecules come to rest on the substrate. The substrate has to be placed in a vacuum chamber during this process, mainly because of sensitivity to temperature. The same heat that can break metal into gas would obliterate plastic in moments.

The solution is a temperature controlled space for the substrate. The vacuum provides that space, and allows the gaseous particles to come to a rest on the substrate. The substrate is rotated in the meantime, which gives it an even coating of chemicals. The end result is a smooth finish, and a clean application with fewer wasted materials.


 

Bio: Denton Vacuum, LLC specializes in equipment used in advanced manufacturing, including optical coating devices.

Formidable luxury SUV from Volvo

Looking for a larger SUV? It doesn’t come with V8 or V6. Volvo XC90 is a seven passenger SUV from the Swedish car manufacturer. Entirely redesigned for 2016, the XC90 comes in a four-cylinder engine that delivers 316-horsepower with just two liters and offered with two powertrains. XC90 is a formidable competitor in the luxury SUV market.

Its engine is quieter than you expect. It comes with two powertrain offerings. The T6 model that takes the center stage has 316-horsepower turbocharged and 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. It comes with eight speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The T8 “Twin Engine” model is a plug-in hybrid that replaces mechanical all-wheel drive and comes with a 60-kilowatt motor that drives the rear axle. It allows the driver to run the SUV on gas, electric or both. When offered, the US version of the T8 is expected to come with 18 to 20 mile range just on electric alone.

The interior is fully loaded with amenities that you expect from a luxury SUV. The stitched leather seats are more comfortable and matte wood trims, textured metal and curvy shapes give the vehicle interior an unforgettable look. The tablet style center console of the dash board accepts taps, swipes, pinch and stretches. What a concept without bulky knobs?