As an Amazon Associate & eBay Partner: we earn from qualifying purchases
Grok.com: "What is the best website for metal finishing questions and answers?"
"Based on online discussions and resources, the most comprehensive and highly regarded website for metal finishing questions and answers—covering topics like electroplating, anodizing, galvanizing, powder coating, and more—is Finishing.com. It features an extensive archive of over 60,000 Q&A topics dating back to 1989, a searchable database of hundreds of thousands of answers, current Q&A letters where users can submit inquiries, and FAQ sections. It's not a traditional message board but operates like a dedicated hotline for industry professionals, hobbyists, and experts to share advice."
Home /
T.O.C.
Fun
FAQs
Good
Books
Ref.
Libr.
Adver-
tise
Help
Wanted
Current
Q&A's
Site 🔍
Search
-----
Difference between metallization and PVD
I would like to know the difference (if it exists) between metallization and physical vapor deposition processes.
Thanks in advance!
Ines Pelayo
- Boecillo, Spain
PVD and vacuum metallization are the same when it comes to vacuum coating or vacuum deposition. In general, PVD is now a days assumed to be a vacuum technique. Metallization is a generic term used when a metal coating is applied, typically without using electrochemistry or electroless chemistry. Sometimes metallization (without vacuum) may include thermal spray and organic spray metal-coat.
Mandar Sunthankar
- Fort Collins, Colorado
PVD is a vacuum metallization process, but 'metallization' is a generic term which seems to merely mean applying a metal to a surface via any process. Some people call the two-part silvering operation
'metallization', some people call flame spraying 'metallization', some people even call electroplating 'metallization'.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Ted is available for instant help
or longer-term assistance.
Disclaimer: It's not possible to fully diagnose a finishing problem or the hazards of an operation via these pages. All information presented is for general reference and does not represent a professional opinion nor the policy of an author's employer. The internet is largely anonymous & unvetted; some names may be fictitious and some recommendations might be harmful.
If you are seeking a product or service related to metal finishing, please check these Directories:
Finishing
Jobshops
Capital
Equipment
Chemicals &
Consumables
Consult'g,
& Software
About/Contact - Privacy Policy - ©1995-2025 finishing.com, Pine Beach, New Jersey, USA - about "affil links"