Overview:Rather than simply applying a layer of different colorful substances AND simple gold plating on the metal instruments, the craftsmen acquired a process that would guarantee long-term resistance after testing various techniques. Finally they chose an effective procedure: PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition), which involves coating the surfaces with a layer of protective metallic vapours (Ionic plating).
How it Works:The instruments to be treated are placed on supports in an air-tight container, which may hold several hundred parts at a time. The air is pumped out of the container, creating a vacuum equivalent to one billionth of normal atmospheric pressure, in other words close to the pressure that exists in space. A flow of gases, ionized Nitrogen and Argon is introduced into the chamber. These ionized particles are sprayed on to the instruments, which causes their surface to heat up. Deposition material Titanium is flash evaporated and ionized by an electric arc. This generates a plasma within the chamber of ionized atomic Nitrogen, Argon and Titanium. A voltage is applied to the substrates to accelerate the ions in the plasma cloud to the surface of the parts. This positively charged Titanium plasma is attracted to the negatively charged parts to be coated. The Titanium and Nitrogen combine on the surface of the substrate, Ion by Ion, forming a dense, hard coating of Titanium Nitride (TiN). The coating bonds to the surface of the substrate, and even penetrates the surface slightly, to give an outstanding level of adhesion.
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