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Vacuum Metallized Pigments (VMP) are extremely thin aluminum flakes produced in a special process known as Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD).
If you are ready to request a sample of ECKART's Vacuum Metallized Pigments, complete the form below and an ECKART representative will contact you.
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.
VMPs are produced via Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD). The PVD process is far different from wet milling, the process that creates traditional flake pigments. Physical Vapor Deposition involves vaporizing aluminum under vacuum with high heat, then depositing that vapor onto a substrate for later collection.
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 Step3
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.
Vacuum Metallized Pigments are used in a variety of industries. Each market gives ECKART the opportunity to provide VMPs in a form that is unique. Visit the following Market pages to learn more about VMPs.
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.
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