Guest post is provided by Denton Vacuum, LLC, offering vacuums and sputtering systems for a variety of industry applications. View their website for more details.
Vacuums are a piece of precision machinery that create an air tight seal for a complete sputter deposition system. Sputtering technology evaporates an agent, such as paint for example, and allows it to condense on the surface of the target, which can be anything from a piece of plastic to a piece of metal. The layering is so incredibly thin, it would take an electron microscope to see the layering, so even a light microscope wouldn’t be enough to see the thickness of the substance layered on the target. The substrate is heated to plasma levels, as hot as the surface of the sun. An air tight seal is required of vacuum devices in order to keep outside impurities from entering the process. Expert operation is required for using a sputtering machine, and only trained individuals will know how to properly care for the device. It is recommended that these machines are stored in a secure location as they are very expensive to repair or replace.
Paint is not the only substance used in vacuum coating technology. Many types of material can be melted via vacuum metallization. Sometimes the surface can be compared to the hardness of a diamond, making the perfect film to cover any machinery that undergoes high abrasion or impact. Using a film created by sputtering methods prevents chipping and scratching of sensitive tools. Applications for this kind of technology can be applied to various industries and niches including auto factories and computer hardware manufacturing. If your industry needs an amazingly durable coating, using a sputtering vacuum is the perfect way to achieve this.