PVD Coloring Treatment on Stainless Steel: what is it and how is it carried out?

What is the PVD Coloring Treatment on Stainless Steel?

The PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) treatment on stainless steel is a highly innovative coloring technology that allows for a wide range of tones and effects on all types of stainless steel sheets.

The PVD coating, with its different tones, further enhances stainless steel sheets, maintaining the original finishes.

The PVD coating provides stainless steel sheets with various colors and shades. Through a vacuum production process, the solid material (also known as the target) is vaporized, creating a condensation that will coat the substrate with a very thin surface film.

The deposition of the film forms a true surface coating, generally with a thickness ranging from 0.5 microns to a maximum of 3 microns (unlike the galvanic treatment where 5 microns to 20 microns are applied, depending on whether the coating is decorative or functional).

The deposition of the film forms a true surface coating, generally with a thickness ranging from 0.5 microns to a maximum of 3 microns (unlike the galvanic treatment where 5 microns to 20 microns are applied, depending on whether the coating is decorative or functional).

Advantages of PVD Treatment compared to other types of coloring are:

• High Surface Hardness (>1800 HV)
• Greater Durability Over Time due to the strong surface layer
• Stability and Uniformity of the color tone across the entire surface
• Reduced Friction Coefficien
• Wide Range of PVD Colors and Finishes
• Bright and Brilliant Tones
• Reproducibility even across different productions
• High Resistance to Wear, Corrosion, and Abrasion
• Non-toxic and Hygieni
• Easy to Maintein
• Eco-friendly: No chemical substances or gas emissions
• High Resistance to Atmospheric Agents (UV rays, acid rain, salt fog, heat, etc.)
• High Impact Design for any application

Unlike the electrocoloring process (obsolete, poorly performing, and environmentally unsustainable), the PVD treatment ensures a constant color uniformity across the entire surface of stainless steel sheets, regardless of the viewing angle. The quality of the coloring will therefore be "superior" to other technologies, and the final result will leave you speechless.

How is the PVD Treatment Performed?

Sputtering, cathodic arc, and thermal evaporation are the three main methods used for PVD coating. They differ in how atoms and ions in the vaporization phase are extracted from the target and the energy provided to them.

• Sputtering: The target is bombarded by particles from an ionized gas, eroding the material and extracting the atoms that will subsequently deposit on the steel substrate uniformly.
• Cathodic Arc: Localized evaporation of the target is produced by an electric discharge, generating a flow of ionized material towards the stainless steel sheets to be coated.
• Thermal Evaporation (or Metallization): The material to be deposited is heated to a very high temperature, causing it to evaporate towards the substrate.

Every PVD plant is divided into three fundamental parts: the process chamber, the pumping system, and the control electronics.

The stainless steel sheets prepared for PVD treatment are carefully prepared, ensuring their surface is free from any impurities or contamination.

The steel sheets are then inserted into the PVD treatment chamber, and after reaching the ideal vacuum for deposition, the electrical sources will be activated for the correct extraction of atoms from the target. By varying the gas flow and the atom extraction rate from the target, the material will have different physical characteristics and colors.

After this last process, the stainless steel sheets can be quickly extracted from the PVD chamber without the need for further treatments or procedures, and no disposal operations will be necessary.

The PVD process is managed by software that automatically regulates the sequence of all predefined operations to achieve the final result

The PVD machine requires regular maintenance, as well as thorough cleaning of all internal components.

Types of PVD Colors and Finishes by MTS Metalspeciali

The PVD steel produced by MTS-METALSPECIALI is characterized by a wide range of tones, which can be produced on different finishes and patterns of stainless steel sheets, such as:

• Colored PVD Sheets with Supermirror Polished Finish
• Colored PVD Sheets with Satin, Scotch Brite Satin, and Non-directional Satin Finish
• Colored PVD Sheets with Textured Finish
• Colored PVD Sheets with Decorative Finish
• Colored PVD Sheets with Microbeaded Finish
• Colored PVD Sheets with Etched Finish
• Colored PVD Sheets with Anti-slip Finish

On satin finishes, it is also possible to apply the anti-fingerprint treatment with nanotechnology (anti-fingerprint coating) with numerous functional and aesthetic advantages, such as: less visible fingerprints that are easily cleaned without the use of chemical products, greater resistance to corrosion and atmospheric events, and higher hygiene.

The most relevant PVD colors and finishes MTS can produce and distribute are:

• BLACK PVD STEEL: An intense and refined tone, neither too dark nor too light, leaning towards anthracite. Black PVD coating captures attention and highlights small details. Black PVD stainless steel is elegant, formal, and refined, and when combined with other materials or colors, it complements a unique style.
• GOLD PVD STEEL: Our flagship! A classic yet unique tone. Refined, bright, luxurious, and striking, the gold PVD coating attracts even the most distracted onlookers. The gold PVD finish warms and illuminates when combined with darker colors and lightens and accentuates when paired with light, less intense colors. Gold PVD coating on stainless steel gives sheets unparalleled brilliance, uniqueness, and elegance, with extremely durable functional characteristics.
• CHAMPAGNE PVD STEEL: The champagne-colored PVD treatment on stainless steel is special! The color tone is softer than gold, exclusive, and can be paired with any other color. The champagne PVD finish on stainless steel sheets has a "light" and clean tone, sometimes only noticeable from different angles or light plays. Champagne-colored PVD coating is the right compromise for environments where you want to highlight certain details without drawing too much attention.
• BRONZE/COPPER PVD STEEL: Bronze or copper PVD coatings make stainless steel sheets soft, sinuous, and delicate. Bronze-colored PVD stainless steel tends to hide the materiality of objects, while copper-colored PVD stainless steel is the perfect blend of old and new, with colder reflections than gold PVD and warmer than silver tones. Bronze PVD treatment on stainless steel is elegant and versatile for use in any environment, while copper-colored PVD stainless steel has a more captivating but balanced tone. Both PVD colors, when combined with solid colors, create classy details that do not go unnoticed.
• BLUE PVD STEEL: Blue-colored PVD stainless steel is used in all those circumstances where "balance" is needed. Blue PVD treatment on stainless steel sheets is a relaxing, serious, almost contemplative tone. Blue PVD coating on stainless steel sheets generates a sense of lightness and cleanliness, conveying a sense of trust and solidity.
• GREEN/PURPLE PVD STEEL: Green or purple PVD finishes are among the most original, but not for everyone! Stainless steel with these PVD colors becomes literally iridescent, for all those projects and objects that need to have great visibility without losing refinement.

MTS can adapt all the produced color tones according to the specific needs of the clients and the application sector.

The sectors of application for stainless steel sheets with PVD treatment are: architecture and design, elevators, coverings in general, interior and exterior furnishings, catering, food, naval, exhibitions, fittings, fairs, hotels , automotive, medical, household appliances, components, chemical-pharmaceutical, bathroom furniture and many others.

Why Choose MTS Colored Stainless Steel?

Since 1941, MTS-METALSPECIALI SRL has been active in the production and distribution of finishes and patterns on stainless steel sheets for every type of use!

Before the advent of the internet and other information sources, special finishes and patterns on stainless steel sheets were a real niche market: availability was very complicated, the business turnover was limited, and delivery times were often long.

MTS-METALSPECIALI has always believed in the added value of finishes and patterns on stainless steel and, for this reason, decided to invest resources in research and development of these materials to bring something extremely innovative to Italy and best meet customer requests.

This led to a historic partnership with one of the few international producers of patterns and finishes on stainless steel, an indissoluble partnership that lasted for over 35 years.

Over the years, MTS has acquired unique and exclusive technical and qualitative know-how and is able to support all types of clients and projects, from initial phases to intermediate steps, up to the final execution stages, with highly specialized internal technical support.

For this reason, we decided to adopt an ISO 9001 quality system through the DNV-BUSINESS entity, which allows us to constantly monitor all phases of production processes for high and consistent quality standards over time.

The quality of the raw material, state-of-the-art production processes, and the experience gained over the years by the entire MTS staff place our stainless steel at the top of the international production chain, for projects of any type, where high quality, good value for money, and 360° support are always essential

The PVD colored sheets by MTS-METALSPECIALI are predominantly produced in AISI 304 and AISI 316L, in standard formats of 1000x2000mm or 1250x2500mm or 1250x3000mm or 1500x3000mm, with thicknesses from 0,6mm to 7,0mm

The majority of shades and finishes of stainless steel sheet in commercial sizes are always available from stock, with lead times from order confirmation of about 1-2 working days, barring unforeseen circumstances.

Any non-standard sizes can be produced on request and will require minimum quantities, with lead times from order date of about 2 weeks, barring unforeseen circumstances.

The maximum size of colored stainless steel sheets that MTS-METALSPECIALI can produce is 2000x6000mm

 

All MTS staff are always available for personalized information or advice, contact us at phone number +39 02 21711812 or send us an email at the address info@mtsmetalspeciali.it