Blacker than black: PVD technology makes it possible

How PVD coatings enable product innovation to fulfill expectations of modern customers

Decorative coatings began simply with an intention to provide a bright and metallic appearance aiming to differentiate products distinctively from its competitions. Consumers looking into several products of interest will generally have their attention drawn to packets that have a certain brightness in their design.

The current market for decorative coatings USD $67 bn is predicted to surge at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.2% to reach USD $84 bn in 2024 (MarketsandMarkets, 2020)

For last two and half decades, different methods and technologies have emerged which enable products to be colored decoratively, particularly through the development of vacuum deposition techniques. Physical Vapor Deposition PVD, a most popularly used industrial vacuum deposition technique has been gaining a lot of attraction in recent years,

as a coating layer by PVD is durable both against corrosion and scratches.

Decorative coatings by PVD must pass through stringent demands such as,

• attractive color

• high hardness

• stability in colour over time

• resistance to corrosion and wear.

Among all the possibilities of PVD deposition, magnetron sputtering technology is gaining a pivotal attention to deposit coating of various colours at the temperatures lower than 180°C, presenting a major advantage over the rest of technologies to coat heat sensitive parts such as plastics, elements of watches with springs, bras faucets, door handles and automobile components etc.