In vacuum metallizing a metallic coating material placed in a vacuum chamber

Vacuum chamber

A vacuum chamber is a rigid enclosure from which air and other gases are removed by a vacuum pump. The resulting low pressure, commonly referred to as a vacuum, allows researchers to conduct physical experiments or to test mechanical devices which must operate in outer space...

 with the workpiece to be coated. The material that is being applied is then heated until it starts to evaporate, this vaporized metal

Metal

A metal , is an element, compound, or alloy that is a good conductor of both electricity and heat. Metals are usually malleable and shiny, that is they reflect most of incident light...

 condenses on the product or workpiece as a thin metallic film. As this is happening the part is being rotated for uniformity of the coat

Process characteristics

• Done within a vacuum
• Vaporizes the metal
• Can be used on glass
  Glass
  Glass is an amorphous solid material. Glasses are typically brittle and optically transparent.The most familiar type of glass, used for centuries in windows and drinking vessels, is soda-lime glass, composed of about 75% silica plus Na2O, CaO, and several minor additives...
  
  , plastic
  Plastic
  A plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids used in the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass, and may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce production costs...
  
  , metal, ceramic
  Ceramic
  A ceramic is an inorganic, nonmetallic solid prepared by the action of heat and subsequent cooling. Ceramic materials may have a crystalline or partly crystalline structure, or may be amorphous...
  
  , and paper materials
• Pieces being coated must be extremely clean
• It produces a very thin coat of metal

Target materials

Thickness ranges for 0.01 to 0.2 micrometres. When coating a piece it changes its conductivity, it improves its corrosion resistance, and it enhances its appearance. Some target metals are aluminum, copper, platinum, titanium, chromium titanium, gold, lead, nickel, silver, tin and tantalum.

How it works

The piece to be coated is placed inside the vacuum chamber on a rotating rack. A vacuum is created in the chamber and the metallizing material is then heated until it evaporates. The vaporized metal bonds to the piece, making a thin coating on the piece.