posted 01-07-2004 02:33 PM            

Has anyone seen/had PVD silver flatware or holloware?

Thanks.

I have pulled the following from a variety of sources. I have removed most of the scientific speak and hopefully haven't mis-conveyed any of the info we would find interesting.

quote:

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• Physical Vapor Deposition: (PVD or sputtering): A dry vacuum process used to coat parts with metals.

• Physical Vapor Deposition: A coating process whereby the cleaned and masked component to be coated is heated and rotated on a spindle above the streaming vapor generated by melting and evaporating a coating material source bar with a focused electron beam in an evacuated chamber.

In Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD), the materials, which have been selected for the coating, are heated by bombardment with a stream of highly accelerated electrons to the point of evaporation in a vacuum. Vaporized material exits the evaporation source forming a cloud or stream. These vaporized material particles move toward the target carrying a relatively low level of energy (approximately 1 eV ). Upon arrival at the target, the material forms a thin film layer which molecularly bonds the source material to the target. Today, Physical Vapor Deposition is used in the making of faucets, medical instruments, and other fittings and household fixtures.

Faucets with PVD molecularly bonded finishes have a super-hard surface that withstands the most intense kitchen and bath use, standing up to the rigors of everyday use - best of all, mild soap and water is all it takes to maintain a beautiful shine.

Physical Vapor Deposition is also eco-friendly. It has none of the environmental limitations associated with acid plating. Today faucet and door hardware, interior automotive parts, cutting tools, bake ware, and surgical implements all look and perform better with Physical Vapor Deposition.

PVD can deposit almost any metal or refractory-metal compound. Refractories are the usual choice where a combination of properties such as extreme hardness, corrosion resistance, and aesthetics are important.

The technique, known as low-temperature arc-vapor deposition (LTAVD), can now apply both refractory metals and conventional metal coatings at near ambient temperatures. Parts to coated go in a chamber and revolve around a cathode that is the metallic source of the coating. A vacuum is drawn on the chamber and a low-voltage arc is established on the metallic source. The arc evaporates the metal from the source temperatures rarely above 100°C.

The chamber gets charged with a mixture of common inert and reactive gasses, such as argon and nitrogen, and an arc-generated plasma surrounds the source material. Arc-evaporated metal atoms and reactive-gas molecules ionize in the plasma and accelerate away from the source. The high energy causes hard and adherent coatings to form on the targets as they rotate around the source.

Manufacturers claim that PVD coating will provide:

• Exceptional resistance to abrasion.
  
• Elimination of clear topcoats that can be scratched or discolored by sunlight.
  
• Exceptional richness and depth.

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