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Platinum PVD scratch resistance?

I have a nice finished steel gift. It's claimed to be platinum PVD. The surface is black with polished look.

How scratch resistant is this surface?

Robert Kirr
- Cluj City, ROMANIA
2002

Hi, Robert. If properly applied, the adhesion and scratch resistance should be very good. But remember that such coatings are multi-layer, and a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. So the platinum could be scratched off unless the whole treatment process is done well.

Plus, there is always an "eggshell" effect when putting a hard coating on a softer substrate like steel. No matter how hard the very thin platinum is, a hard scratch will dent the underlying softer metal, probably pulling the platinum off as well.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
August 18, 2008

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