Physical Vapor Deposition

Using traditional PVD methods, manufactures place goods they wish to coat into the chamber.

Once in the chamber, the substrate is exposed to the vapor and metals are deposited on the surface.

It is because of the additional equipment and processes that many producers search for alternatives. Often they turn to traditional spray applied coatings that include vacuum metallized pigments; pigments that have been produced using the physical vapor deposition process.

Vacuum Metallized Pigments (VMP) are extremely thin aluminum flakes produced using Physical Vapor Deposition and are free of lubricants.

Therefore these pigments have a uniform, smooth surface with non-leafing properties resulting in an optical micro-mirror-like effect.

This effect cannot be achieved by conventional metallic effect pigments such as cornflakes or silver dollars. ​

VMPs produced using Physical Vapor Deposition are used across many industries and market segments.

All vacuum metallized pigments are ultra-brilliant aluminum pigment dispersions designed to create the highest level of reflectance in solvent borne coatings and inks, covering the complete range of effects: ultra-dark to light color shades, soft to intensive chrome-like effects, brilliant to highly-brilliant.

PVD Step 1

A polyester carrier substrate is coated with a release agent.

This release agent will act as a barrier between the carrier substrate and the condensing aluminum vapor.

PVD Step 2

Within a vacuum chamber, aluminum is heated to a molten state and the vapor rises towards the moving carrier substrate.

When the carrier substrate is covered with a layer of aluminum it is referred to as having been “metallized.”

PVD Step 3

The carrier substrate, coated with now-hardened aluminum, is transferred to a solvent bath. The solvent will weaken and dissolve the release agent coating that was applied is Step 1.

As the release agent dissolves, the metallization breaks away in flakes that are much larger than the finished pigment.

PVD Step 4

Finally, the flakes of aluminum are transferred to particle sizing. Here, flakes are broken into smaller pigments using sheer force.

Chrome-like and mirror effects are desired to accent almost every part of an automobile. Therefore, VMPs are found on the interior and exterior of automobiles.

On the interior, chrome effects using Vacuum Metallized pigments can be anywhere that reflects.

On the exterior, VMPs are used to accent mirrors, doors, facias, roof racks, rims and more.

Architectural coatings make use of VMPs to provide accents for structures that display chrome and mirror effects.

Manufacturers also use VMPs to accent consumer goods from motorcycle helmets to espresso machines and everything in between.

In the cosmetics industry, Vacuum Metallized Pigments are used in limited application areas. Primarily, it is only applications for nail coverings.

While traditional VMPs are used to produce chrome-like or mirror-like effects, rainbow or prismatic effects are generated using VMPs that are produced using a modified PVD process.

VMPs are used to formulate mirror-like printing inks.

In the packaging or label sector, these achieve chrome-like effects.

They are state of the art as an alternative to foil stamping or metallized substrates in the graphic arts industry.