P.V.D.is the short form of physical vapor deposition. Simply speaking,。PVD is a technology of vapor deposition. We usually collectively call vacuum vapor coating, vacuum sputtering coating, and vacuum ion coating as “physical vapor deposition” technology; in short, PVD technology. PVD vacuum coating technology is one of surface treatment technologies. In the vacuum environment, film materials generate coating film on the surface of the target workpiece after vapor deposition. PVD is a kind of “dry environment-friendly manufacturing process”, and the key feature is the “zero pollution” generated during the whole coating process. Its cleanliness level achieves the same level of atomic scale, and it is far better than the traditional wet plating manufacturing process. Currently, all of the developed countries adopt the high-tech surface treatment manufacturing process, such as Holland, USA, and Germany... etc..

“Electroplating” is an electric chemical process. It is a process of oxidation-reduction reaction carried out on anode and cathode between two conductors under the external DC power supply. Due to the whole reaction process is carried out in the plating solution, it is also called “water plating” or “liquid phase method”.
“Vacuum coating” is the process of the material being gasified under high vacuum or ionized due to stimulation and creates coating film on the surface of the workpiece. The common technology includes vacuum vapor coating, vacuum sputtering coating, ion coting, ion implantation, and chemical vapor deposition. It is also called “vapor phase method” due to the whole coating process is carried out in the dry vacuum room. There are several common features on electroplating and vacuum plating: 1. Decoration; 2. Functionality; 3. Correlation (it doesn’t matter how good the quality of the workpiece is if the pre-plating surface treatment is poor; it might cause the loss of customers in serious cases).

P.V.D.coating film generated by physical vapor deposition is with high hardness, corrosion resistance, abrasion resistance, and pleasing to the eye.
Starting from its aesthetic feature, it is applied to decorative plating (such as bathroom hardware, daily necessities, decorative accessory...etc.) in the beginning and developed into focusing on its feature of high hardness with the application on products of abrasion resistance (such as machining knives, tools, and molds). All products with PVD coating are with significant enhancement on the life cycle; therefore, P.V.D. is now widely used in developed countries while it has been introduced into Taiwan for more than a decade.

Products with vacuum ion coating application
Bathroom hardware components (showerhead, faucet, basin)	Medal, trophy, badge Pen, stationery
Domestic hardware (showerhead, faucet, basin)	Band Pen, stationery
Tableware	Metal toy
Stainless steel products	Vacuum components
Building materials	Communications equipment(mobile phone case)
Bicycle component and accessory	Computer hardware and peripheral equipment
Decorative lighting	Car tire and accessory
Glass products	Golden signboard for companies
Gold figure of buddha (porcelain crafts)	ABS products
Surgical knife, denture
Necklace, jewelry, glasses frame, clock, watch chain, key chain, cufflink, tie, strip head, button, metal accessory, gift, fashion accessory

Type of common decorative coating and its features
Coating	TiN	TiCN	ZrN	CrN	DLC	TiO2	TiALN
Color	Gold	Gold, brown, metal gun color	Copper	Silver	Black	Blue, purple, green	Brown
HV hardness(Kg/mm²)	2000-2500	2800-3200	2800-3000	22000-2400	1500-2000	1500-1800	3000-3400
Friction coefficient	<0.6	<0.4	<0.4	<0.3	<0.1	<0.1	<0.4
Temperature tolerance(℃)	450	400	500	700	500	400	800

For decorative coating, the most important control during manufacturing process is the change in colors other than hardness and adhesion. The color can be changed by modifying the condition of vapor, temperature, and time.

Manufacturing process of vacuum ion coating
Use chromium coating or stainless steel as base material
↓(next step)
Ultrasonic cleaning	To remove the dust and oil stain on the surface of the workpiece
↓(next step)
Baking	To dry the moisture remained on the surface of the workpiece
↓(next step)
Quality inspection	Manually inspect and wipe
↓(next step)
Vacuum ion coating	Carrying out the manufacturing process of ion coating

Main features of zirconium nitride coating
Golden color	Imitating gold (imitating silver, imitating copper)
High hardness	Surface hardness is 10 times of stainless steel
Corrosion resistance	Soak in salty water or hydrochloric acid solution for one day and with no corrosion and color fading
Antioxidation	No color changing when the air is heated up to 500℃
High thermal conductivity	4 times higher than that in copper
Low friction drags	Hard to Generate Heat by Grinding
Wear resistanceS	No coating coming off and no color fading
trong adhesion	No material coming off and no color fading