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Advantages of PVD Coating over Electroplating
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Hello ,
I want to know what are the advantages of coating tools by Plasma Vacuum Deposition process over coating by Electroplating.
student - Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
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Hi, Murthy. Some materials can be applied by PVD but not by electroplating, including some very hard and wear resistant coatings. Plus there is usually a reduced potential for release of a toxic material to the environment from PVD compared to electroplating. You did not ask for the disadvantages of PVD compared to electroplating, and your teacher may grade your homework poorly if you leave it at that :-) Good luck.
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 Ted Mooney, P.E. finishing.com Brick, New Jersey |
January 7, 2011
Watch makers are increasingly using PVD on watch cases and movements. While we might presume that it creates a more durable finish, interested to know if it's nothing more than marketing puff.
Dave Carter- Boston, Massachusetts, USA
January 7, 2011
Hi, Dave
Watchcases are very small high production items that happen to play well to the advantages of being applied by PVD. From the consumer's standpoint it may be of little importance how a coating was applied, but if a particular coating is ideal for an application, and that coating can only be applied by PVD, that would dictate the use of PVD.
Here is an example: gold is a beautiful precious metal that has long been electroplated onto watches, but it is often applied very thin because of its cost, and then it can wear away, especially off of exposed high points as shown:
Titanium nitride, the goldish-color hard coating you see on drill bits, is applied by PVD. If the watch maker had applied titanium nitride followed by gold electroplating, those exposed high points would have remained quite goldish looking even after the gold has worn off, instead of the unacceptable contrast of turning nickel colored as shown.
Regards,
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 Ted Mooney, P.E. finishing.com Brick, New Jersey |