How to achieve color customization of decorative coatings through multi-arc ion and sputtering technology?

1. Technical principles
1. Multi-arc ion plating technology:
The core of multi-arc ion plating technology, also known as multi-arc ion source coating technology, is to utilize the tiny arc discharge points generated on the surface of the cathode target during arc discharge. These points instantly evaporate and ionize a large number of metal ions and electrons. These high-energy ions are accelerated and bombarded to the surface of the substrate under the action of the electric field. At the same time, accompanied by the collision and reaction of gas molecules, a uniform and dense metal or compound film is finally formed on the substrate. This technology not only has a high deposition rate and can significantly shorten the production cycle, but also the prepared film has good adhesion, hardness and corrosion resistance. It is one of the important technical means in the field of decorative coatings.
2. Sputtering technology:
Sputtering technology, especially magnetron sputtering technology, plays an important role in the preparation of decorative coatings. This technology uses high-energy particles (such as argon ions) to bombard the target surface, causing the target atoms or molecules to gain enough energy and escape from the surface, and then deposit on the surface of the substrate to form a thin film. By introducing reactive gases, such as nitrogen, oxygen, etc., the sputtered target atoms or molecules will chemically react with the gas molecules to generate compound films with specific colors and properties. Sputtering technology has the advantages of uniform coating, good repeatability, and wide application range. It is an important means to achieve color customization of decorative coatings.

2. Key factors in color customization
1. Selection and proportion of reaction gas:
In the color customization process of decorative coatings, the selection and proportion of reactive gases are crucial. Different reactive gases react with the target to produce compounds of different colors, giving the coating a unique color. For example, the TiN film produced by the reaction of nitrogen and titanium targets exhibits a golden luster, while the reaction of oxygen and titanium targets may produce a blue-black TiO2 film. By precisely controlling the type and proportion of reactive gases, the color of the coating can be fine-tuned to achieve precise color customization. The flow rate and purity of the reaction gas will also affect the color uniformity and quality stability of the coating, so strict control is required in actual production.
2. Adjustment of process parameters:
The adjustment of process parameters is a key link in achieving color customization of decorative coatings. The size of the arc current directly affects the evaporation rate of the target material and the energy of the ion beam, which in turn affects the thickness, structure and color of the coating. Appropriately increasing the arc current can increase the evaporation rate, but too high a current may cause overheating or even ablation of the target. The nitrogen flow determines the gas concentration that reacts with the target, thereby affecting the color depth and uniformity of the coating. By adjusting the nitrogen flow rate, the color change of the coating can be precisely controlled. The negative bias voltage of the substrate is also one of the important factors affecting the quality of the coating. An appropriate negative bias voltage can improve the bonding force and density of the film, but an excessive bias voltage may increase the surface roughness of the film and affect the color effect. In actual production, process parameters need to be finely adjusted and optimized according to specific conditions.
3. Target material selection:
The type and purity of the target material have an important impact on the color and performance of the decorative coating. Different types of target materials react with the same reactive gas to produce compound films of different colors. For example, a titanium target reacts with nitrogen to produce a golden TiN film, while a chromium target reacts with nitrogen to produce a silvery-white CrN film. The purity of the target material also affects the color and performance stability of the coating. High-purity target materials can reduce the introduction of impurity elements and improve the purity and quality stability of the coating. When selecting a target material, factors such as the type, purity, and shape of the target material need to be considered according to specific needs to ensure an ideal coating effect.

3. Implementation steps
1. Substrate preparation:
The preparation of the substrate is the basis for customizing the color of the decorative coating. First, the substrate needs to be cleaned and decontaminated to remove dust, oil and other impurities on the surface to ensure a good combination of the coating and the substrate. The cleaning method can be selected according to the material of the substrate and the degree of contamination, such as chemical cleaning, mechanical grinding or ultrasonic cleaning. The surface of the cleaned substrate should remain dry, flat, and free of defects such as scratches and oxide layers. In addition, the substrate needs to be pre-treated to improve its surface activity and adhesion, such as sandblasting, pickling or anodizing. The pretreated substrate should be coated as soon as possible to avoid re-contamination.
2. Equipment debugging:
Before customizing the decorative coating color, the coating equipment needs to be debugged and calibrated. First, it is necessary to check the integrity and working status of each component of the equipment; then set appropriate process parameters such as arc current, nitrogen flow, substrate negative bias, etc. according to the required coating color and performance requirements; and finally conduct a no-load test run. To check equipment stability and accuracy of process parameters. During the debugging process, attention must be paid to safety issues and environmental protection requirements to ensure that the equipment is produced and operated in compliance with relevant regulations and standards.
3. Deposition process:
The deposition process is the core link in achieving color customization of decorative coatings. After filling the vacuum environment with an appropriate amount of inert gas and reactive gas, start the coating equipment to start the deposition process. Coating color and uniformity need to be closely monitored during deposition and fine-tuned as necessary to ensure ideal coating results. At the same time, attention must be paid to controlling parameters such as deposition rate and temperature to avoid quality problems such as cracks and shedding. After deposition, the coating needs to undergo necessary post-processing such as annealing to improve the stability and performance of the coating.
4. Post-processing:
Post-processing is the last step in color customization of decorative coatings and one of the key links to improve coating quality and performance. Annealing treatment is one of the commonly used post-treatment methods. It uses heating to release the internal stress of the coating and promote grain growth, thereby improving the hardness and corrosion resistance of the coating. Polishing, spraying and other methods can also be used to beautify the coating surface to improve its appearance quality and decorative effect. During the post-processing process, attention needs to be paid to controlling parameters such as processing temperature and time to avoid adverse effects on the coating.