Metalizing in general refers to all activities that entail sprinkling non-metallic surfaces with metal coat. The first occurrence of this activity was in the year 1835 in mirror making. Mirrors were therefore the first items to be produced through metallization. The high temperatures involved necessitate this process to be done inside special chambers in a controlled environment.
A vacuum chamber is used to heat the coating metal until it reaches its boiling point and boils off. Substrates are placed underneath the boiling metal so that the fine droplets from it settle down on them. When the droplets cool down, a superior coating is formed on the substrates that cannot be removed easily. Heat in the vacuum chamber is derived from plasma heating, resistance heating, or an electron beam. Los Angeles metalizing experts have developed variants of this technique for use in different applications.
One of the variants of this technique requires substrates to be heated in the place of metals. Here, the metals melt down and form even coatings on substrates which are usually heated to extremely high temperatures. The substrate involved must be able to withstand high temperatures without undergoing deformation for the method to work effectively. Superiority of resultant coatings and energy efficiency of this technique are making several companies to shift to this method.
The surface however needs to be prepared properly before the process is done to promote the bond formed between the surface and the coating metal. Abrasive blasting is one of the methods that have been used for a long time to clean surfaces. It removes all kinds of dirt, old paint, mould, and metal oxides formed on the surface exposing the pure interior.
The advantages of metallization are very many in the current world. First, it helps in reducing corrosion on surfaces. Heavy coatings can be used to ensure that the coated surface is sealed off from the outside. The interior cannot therefore be affected by abrasion from external factors. A good example is pipes that are used in water. They are protected from the abrasive action of the water by being plated with tougher metal substances.
Vacuum metalized substrates form effective insulators. This results primarily from the improved reflectance properties. An example of this is in spaceships. Several layers of polyimide films produced through vacuum metallization are used in spacecrafts as thermal insulation systems. Other several applications are also in residential and commercial settings. Metallization enhances properties of surfaces making them better.
Metallization also enhances barrier properties. For example, metalizing a plastic substrate makes it a better barrier to moisture and air. This is a very important application in food and packaging industries. Since the metalized surface also has lower light transmission capability, it also forms a better light barrier. Common cases of functional barrier and insulation applications are in medical packaging, window treatment, electronic labels, and radiant barrier insulation.
Another reason for applying this process on surfaces is aesthetics. It adds a unique appearance to substrates making them reflective like mirrors. Different colors can also be incorporated in the process to make products appear even better. Some of the main applications in the world of beauty lie in merchandizing, personal care packaging, label stocks, and appliance surfacing film.
A vacuum chamber is used to heat the coating metal until it reaches its boiling point and boils off. Substrates are placed underneath the boiling metal so that the fine droplets from it settle down on them. When the droplets cool down, a superior coating is formed on the substrates that cannot be removed easily. Heat in the vacuum chamber is derived from plasma heating, resistance heating, or an electron beam. Los Angeles metalizing experts have developed variants of this technique for use in different applications.
One of the variants of this technique requires substrates to be heated in the place of metals. Here, the metals melt down and form even coatings on substrates which are usually heated to extremely high temperatures. The substrate involved must be able to withstand high temperatures without undergoing deformation for the method to work effectively. Superiority of resultant coatings and energy efficiency of this technique are making several companies to shift to this method.
The surface however needs to be prepared properly before the process is done to promote the bond formed between the surface and the coating metal. Abrasive blasting is one of the methods that have been used for a long time to clean surfaces. It removes all kinds of dirt, old paint, mould, and metal oxides formed on the surface exposing the pure interior.
The advantages of metallization are very many in the current world. First, it helps in reducing corrosion on surfaces. Heavy coatings can be used to ensure that the coated surface is sealed off from the outside. The interior cannot therefore be affected by abrasion from external factors. A good example is pipes that are used in water. They are protected from the abrasive action of the water by being plated with tougher metal substances.
Vacuum metalized substrates form effective insulators. This results primarily from the improved reflectance properties. An example of this is in spaceships. Several layers of polyimide films produced through vacuum metallization are used in spacecrafts as thermal insulation systems. Other several applications are also in residential and commercial settings. Metallization enhances properties of surfaces making them better.
Metallization also enhances barrier properties. For example, metalizing a plastic substrate makes it a better barrier to moisture and air. This is a very important application in food and packaging industries. Since the metalized surface also has lower light transmission capability, it also forms a better light barrier. Common cases of functional barrier and insulation applications are in medical packaging, window treatment, electronic labels, and radiant barrier insulation.
Another reason for applying this process on surfaces is aesthetics. It adds a unique appearance to substrates making them reflective like mirrors. Different colors can also be incorporated in the process to make products appear even better. Some of the main applications in the world of beauty lie in merchandizing, personal care packaging, label stocks, and appliance surfacing film.
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