PVD Technology is Strengthening its Grasp on the Deposition Industry

PVD coating brings numerous benefits and advantages over other deposition methods.

pvd-coating-automotivePhysical vapor deposition coating, or PVD coating for short, is a vacuum deposition process that has been increasing in popularity over the recent years due to its affordability and quality output. Additionally, its ability to handle large complex geometries in a laboratory setting has further strengthened its case as one of the most valuable coating application mediums available today.

The Benefits of PVD Coating

When using PVD coating equipment, the PVD process naturally provides a more uniform coating and a substantially improved adhesion factor. Furthermore, by utilizing PVD, one has access to a wider array of materials that can be used for deposition without the nuance of dealing with harmful chemicals that need to be disposed of after. That being said, it’s safe to say that the PVD process is an environmentally-friendly option, as opposed to electroplating technology for example, and users will also face minimal chemical disposal costs.

PVD Coating is Becoming the New Medium

Now, many companies have been switching to PVD technology due to these substantial benefits. When it comes to physical vapor deposition, when compared to plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition, there are numerous factors that come into play that the user must be wary of – or overall quality can be affected. Coatings can also be deposited from a room temperature all the way up to 500 degrees Celsius (depending on the substrate and application) with little to no impact on the quality of the output. This is more than enough reason for companies to make the switch.


Denton Vacuum, LLC is a leading manufacturer of UHV sputter deposition equipment. For more information, visit Denton Vacuum, LLC online today. 

How Mold Designers Utilize PVD in Their Designs

Surprisingly, PVD has taken hold of the molding industry, and has made it better.

circuit-boardMold users have been taking advantage of the benefits that physical vapor deposition (PVD) has to offer. Through the use of PVD coating equipment, mold builders have been given a chance to utilize a much more productive system with a largely-positive result. Here is a breakdown of what PVD can do for today’s mold designers and builders.

Benefits

When selecting the best option of all the different types of available PVD coatings, there are numerous factors that must be considered – the three most important being resistance, lubricity, and release. Now, one of the advantages of using PVD over other types of coatings is that it provides more wear resistance over uncoated steel. PVD coatings are known to have a much harder shell, so to speak. The layers of plating that cover over the mold are particularly beneficial as it provides a high abrasion resistance. For mold designers, this is nothing short of a perfect product.

Another benefit of using a PVD system on molds is lubricity and plate release. Both of these work in conjunction to reduce part sticking and cycle time. In addition to this, it provides the mold with a much better looking final finish.

All of these benefits are crucial for a mold designer. Because they work based on a system that focuses on quality, any technique that provides a vast amount of benefits is welcomed within the mold industry.


 

Denton Vacuum, LLC is your number one destination for thin film vacuum coating systems. For more information visit them online today.

Breaking Down the Process of Sputtering

Written by: Denton Vacuum, LLC

Sputtering is responsible for many items that are used on a daily basis.

Understanding the process of sputtering is not as difficult and confusing as you may believe it to be. Below, you will find a brief explanation into how sputtering works as well as its’ importance to science.

Sputtering

Sputtering is the process of depositing thin films of a solid material, mainly metal, onto a substrate. Picture the bottom of a compact disc. If you look closely, you might be able to distinguish which layer has been sputtered onto the CD itself. To create that coating, there are various vacuum coating systems that can coat a disc in less than 2 seconds.

How it Works

The process first starts with gaseous plasma that is created and then accelerated through a sputter deposition system. The source is then ejected and comes out in the form of neutral particles. It then follows a narrow path to the substrate unless there is a specified metal that is placed directly in its path, in which it will then be coated by a thin film of that material placed.

Coating Systems

Technology has allowed users to utilize machines that can be used to create thin films in a small amount of time. Because sputtering utilizes a vacuum-based environment, the type of system used correlates to the quality of thin film produced. One example is a magnetron sputtering system. By incorporating multiple beams and optical sensors, thin films are rapidly produced at a quality level.

With sputtering being an integral part of science, one can only figure that technology will advance both machines and their processes to further enhance their usage over time.

Utilizing E-Beam Evaporation and Its Functions

Summary: Here is a description of how e-beam evaporation works.

What is e-beam evaporation? It’s a physical vapor deposition technique that utilizes an electron beam to strike source material. To be more in-depth, a filament-derived beam is directed via magnetic fields towards, for example, shards of Au, in a vacuum-based environment.

Used to coat materials, the source is heated throughout the process and gains enough energy to travel along the vacuum chamber. This then becomes the coating used to cover the substrate above the material that is placed. A common distance that engineers work with is between 300 mm to 1 meter, which is important for the desired result.

With a minimal amount of thermal energy, the distance between the electron beam source and the substrate must be increased. This is because the collision from one molecule to another particle needs to be made up for the lack of thermal energy involved.

To heat the entire surface of the material, an energized beam is used. Powered by large amounts of electricity, the electrons are converted into a beam using the power of magnets. A thermal evaporation system embedded within the process is configured by the engineers for optimum variables.

What’s important to note is that the evaporated molecules need to travel a working distance and not make contact with any residual molecules that were leftover or not impacted by the beam. Why is this so important? It needs to arrive with a low thermal energy, especially in the case of a sensitive substrate that has to be delicately handled. Radiation from the Ebeam energy typically predominates from the transfer but still won’t have too much of an impactful effect in the end result.


 

Bio: Denton Vacuum, LLC has been around for fifty years providing high-quality production with tireless innovation. Visit them online today.

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.

How Vacuum Coating Systems are Changing Manufacturing

American manufacturing is fast becoming a world leader, especially in quality parts made cheaply. Much of this boils down to improvements made in advanced manufacturing. We can do more with a lot less, especially when it comes to materials and waste. Companies have gone to great lengths to try and save every resource possible, including adopting new practices like sputter deposition.

Machines

The machines that handle these processes are complicated by nature because they must handle extremely specific processes. Everything from the way a substrate is coated, to the methods used to heat the coating materials, must be precisely measured. Plastic is a great example of why this is. At high temperatures, like the kind that would melt metal, plastic would also melt.

Vacuum deposition systems are able to control variables like temperature at extremely precise rates, and the substrate receives an even coating thanks to rotating platforms that let molecules settle evenly on the surface of the object.

Applications

One major area where these changes have made a noticeable improvement is in the field of technology. Technology has a tendency to scale downward in price as time goes on. We’ve seen that as technology becomes more advanced, it becomes cheaper and easier to manufacture. Semiconductors benefit heavily from these systems. The coatings allow for precise layering of metals on circuitry. This makes everything from smaller cell phones to powerful computers possible.

High performance engines, like the kinds used in air planes and race cars, also benefit from this kind of technology. The intense use these engines are put through is not meant for sustainability, so industry has had to adopt. Metalizing plastic screws has become commonplace in newer engine and chassis designs.

Consumers also benefit from technology they use in their homes. Especially those who utilize health care technology. Eye glasses with anti-glare coating are made of a special kind of plastic. The coating is not a liquid form, or else it would lose effectiveness. The coating must be applied in a microscopically thin layer.

Advantages

Aside from the ability to control variables with precision, much of this technology is useful because it can coat something with such an even finish. Sputtering tends to give a matte or anodized finish, but the coating is without defect and even across the surface of the substrate. That level of precision also means lower costs to the manufacturer, who isn’t paying for materials unnecessarily wasted.
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Denton Vacuum, LLC sells vacuum deposition systems for industrial manufacturing applications.

Foam for Auto Interiors

Written by The Foam Factory

Your automotives might have been made to last, unfortunately the same cannot be said for your cushions. After several years of use, vehicle owners might start to notice certain deteriorations in their cushions. Various factors can be attributed to these deteriorations. Some of these are wear and tear and moth infestations. A solution to start anew with your auto interiors is to go for a foam replacement. Professionals in auto-body shops would be more than glad to have the work done for you. Alternatively, and especially if you are into DIY projects yourself, you might opt to carry out the foam replacement yourself. This solution might be the most cost-effective and gratifying one.

Even if you are carrying out the replacement yourself or seeking the help of a professional, the project will start with the choice of the right foam. Indeed, quality and durable materials will last longer and therefore, not require frequent replacements. Carlo Badalamenti is a professional who has been involved in the foam industry since 1980. He knows about the criteria to consider when choosing the right foam mattress. The criteria that you might be considering when choosing your foam product would be density, firmness and durability. For vehicles, long-lasting foams can last for a period of up to 16 years. Fast-drying foams can also used on vehicles that might be prone to humidity or the rain.

The Foam Factory specializes in different kinds of foams for diverse applications. Their products also include foam seat for automotive projects.

Stay comfortable on a long road trip

Written by The Foam Factory

Road trips are often fun and memorable family moments. However, long road trips can be a hassle especially if you are not comfortable while undergoing them. There are several measures that can be taken to render a road trip more comfortable and the below tips could come handy.

Healthy eating while on the road

You might think about focusing on eating healthy while on the road to avoid any discomfort caused by an upset stomach for example. You could think about packing some simple homemade food such as sandwiches, salads, cereals as well as water. You might also pack some fruits and nuts for some extra snacking.

Keeping off stress during the trip

A cause of stress during a road trip would be not knowing about which route to take. In order to avoid this, you might consider planning your itinerary beforehand. This would help you avoid traffic as well. In case you are held up in traffic, you might use music to relax.

Staying Comfortable in Your Seat

Constantly remaining seated for hours tends to be uncomfortable and even painful sometimes. You might think about adjusting your posture and seat to make sure that you are not causing additional discomforts. Taking regular breaks might also be beneficial to your legs and hips.

If you notice that your car seats tend to feel uncomfortable on long road trips, you might think about going for a cushion replacement to improve your comfort. Carlo Badalamenti is the VP of the Foam Factory, a company that offers various foam replacement solutions, including that of your chair cushion.

Cushion replacement for campers

Written by: The Foam Factory

Campers are usually built to last, but unfortunately cushions do not last so long. Camper owners might start to see some deterioration in their vehicle’s cushions after some years of use. This deterioration might be due to factors such as moth infestations or wear and tear. In order to keep on using your camper, you are probably considering replacing its cushions. People can opt to change their cushions themselves or can have it changed by professionals in auto-body shops. Adopting the DIY approach for cushion replacement can be more cost-effective.

Whether you are doing your cushion replacement yourself or having it done by a professional, choosing the right foam is crucial. Buying good quality and durable materials will ensure that the cushions would not have to be replaced often.

Carlo Badalamenti has been involved in foam manufacturing and selling since 1980. He is currently the VP of his company. Throughout his experience, he has acquired knowledge on the qualities that make a good foam. Those qualities are namely the density, softness or firmness and durability of the product. His company offers a variety of foam cushions to choose from. For campers a long-lasting foam is available. The lifespan of this foam can go up to 16 years. Fast-drying foams can also be used on campers.

The Foam Factory is a company selling different types of foams for diverse uses. One of their products caters for the replacement of camper cushions.

How PVD Coating Systems Work

Written by: Denton Vacuum, LLC

Summary: PVD has changed much of the landscape of 21st century manufacturing.

Manufacturing with a PVD system has allowed producers to build durable products out of cheap materials. PVD stands for “plasma vapor distribution” and it’s an important advancement in manufacturing. Products produced with this method often exhibit properties that would otherwise be impossible.

Step By Step

A PVD system begins by super heating materials until they break down into particulates. Special materials, like aluminum, are loaded into a vacuum chamber and heated. As the heat rises, the material melts. This is intense heat, not normally suited for items made of plastics or weaker materials. That’s why PVD works. It allows the substrate, the piece that the coating is applied to, to receive the coating of particles bouncing off the walls of the chamber without getting damaged. The chamber is cooled once the material is broken down, then the substrate is added and the materials settle.

Applications

Thin film vacuum coating is usually used to coat materials in something more durable. For example, plastic screws can receive a metal coating to metalize them and make them more durable. This process is also used in the design and manufacture of NASCAR parts, which are sometimes little more than metalized plastic pieces. The high performance nature of these engines leads to many replacements, so PVD coating makes manufacture more cost-efficient.

Final Thoughts

PVD equipment coating has made manufacturing a lot more affordable. Cheaper materials can now be coated in more durable materials, or given different properties thanks to advanced techniques.