PVD coatings for cutting tools
The introduction of PVD [relevant-to-adsense type=”start”]thin film coatings[relevant-to-adsense type=”stop”] for cutting tools in the metal cutting industry is one of the main success stories in the industrial application of modern coating technology over the last 30 years. The first PVD coating material to have a commercial application on cutting tools was TiN in the early 1980s and since the 1990s most cutting tools are PVD coated particularly in applications where sharp edges are required, e.g. threading, grooving, end-milling, etc. and in cutting applications that have a high demand for a tough cutting edge, e.g. drilling Read more
PVD coatings for the automotive industry
In recent years the importance of fuel economy has become ever more important. Consequently the focus on weight reduction and energy loss due to friction by the major automotive companies has increased. These factors are two of the most important problems in motorsport and it should be noted that sports such as Formula 1, where unit cost is less important than performance improvement, were the first to look at PVD coatings as a solution. Read more
PVD coatings for punches and forming tools
PVD coatings are hard and wear resistant and consequently protect punches and forming tools against abrasive wear significantly extending the lifetime of the tools. Read more.
PVD coatings for injection moulding tools
Injection molding is the process of heating plastic granules to melting point before injecting them at high pressure through a nozzle into a mould. Once the plastic has cooled, the part can be ejected. Injection moulding is usually used when the parts are too complex or cost prohibitive to machine. Injection moulding produces many parts out of the same mould. Read more.
PVD coatings for decorative applications
Since the mid 1990s PVD coatings have been established as the high quality surface finish for sanitary and door hardware with many manufacturers marketing coated products with long time guarantees on their appearance. Read more.
Optical coatings for architecture, TV screens and data displays
Glass is used extensively in various applications as a result of its outstanding properties. Glass is an extremely stable material and is relatively scratch resistant. Importantly for optical applications it also has high transparency for the visible electromagnetic spectrum. These properties have led to the widespread use of glass in architecture and modern information and communication technologies such as TV screens and data displays. Read more.