Where the
world gathers for metal finishing
Q&As since 1989


-----

PVD Glow Discharge for In Process Cleaning Uses

2004

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone could help me with a problem. I wish to know if utilizing a Hydrogen glow discharge phase prior to ion bombarding a tool would aid removal of any slight oxides such as a fine rust to the point where surface adhesion would be satisfactory. Usually we would Fine Glass Bead any rust but this is very time consuming. Any parameters (Voltage, current, gases, pressures) also would be beneficial.

Thank you,

Darren Stephenson
PVD Production Operative - Consett, Durham, England

---

If it is currently taking a bead blaster [on eBay or Amazon] to remove the rust then ion bombardment of any type will not be faster. Ion bombardment can work well to remove oxides but usually the layers are so thin (on the order of 1 micron or 0.00004 inches) you can't see them with the eye. I understand your desire to use hydrogen to hopefully react the oxide out of the rust but I haven't heard of this actually working for someone. All that happens is a lot of energy goes into ionizing hydrogen, which is too light to do any sputtering of the oxide. If you want to try sputtering I would suggest using a pulsed DC power supply and argon gas. You can try some hydrogen with the argon but the majority should be argon.

John Davis
- Berthoud, Colorado, USA
2004