"Functional and Design Opportunities Using PVD + UV Coatings" by Jason Eich, Red Spot given at RadTech UV & EB Technology Expo & Conference 2014. To learn more about UV curable coatings, visit http://www.radtech.org.

1. FUNCTIONAL AND DESIGN
OPPORTUNITIES USING PVD +
UV COATINGS
28 April 2014
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2. Introduction
• Automotive, home
appliance, and
decorative packaging
OEM’s are actively
looking for an alternative
to electroplated systems:
• Color / appearances that
are proprietary and
expensive
• Limited functional design
options
• Environmental concerns
• “Vacuum metallized” –
chrome look processes
have been used for
decorative and
automotive forward
lighting for over 20 years
• Encapsulating a “PVD”
layer with paint systems
allows us to duplicate the
look, and many of the
performance
characteristics of
traditional electroplated
systems
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3. PVD Layer vs. electroplating
Primer (UV based)
10 – 15 µm
Topcoat (UV based)
15 – 20 µm
Plastic Substrate
(large variety!)
Plastic Substrate
Generally ABS
Cu / Ni / Cr
40 – 60 µm
PVD
Metallization
0.1 - 0.2 µm
PVD + UV Coatings Electroplating
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4. Coating Options to encapsulate PVD
• Thermal Cure
• Longer Processing
Times (90 min)
• Lower Cross-Link
Density
• Post Cure Effect
• Pot Life
• Thermal Powder
• Longer Processing
Times
• Temperature
Constraints for Plastic
• UV Curable
• Quick Processing (20
min)
• High Cross-Link
Density – Variety of
PVD Metals
• Low Temperature –
Large Substrate
Selection
• One Component,
Potential
Reclaimability
• Unlimited pot life
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5. UV Coatings / PVD Process as an
alternative to Chrome Plating
Substrate
UV Basecoat
PVD Metal Layer
UV Protective Topcoat
Provides protection of the
metal layer and
performance properties
Seals substrate,
provides (leveling) and
an ultra smooth surface,
adhesion properties

6. Physical Vapor Deposition
(Thermal evaporation)
• Deposition of metal via thermal vaporization
• Individual components of alloys vaporize at
different temperatures,
resulting in individual layers being deposited
• Most common for depositing elemental metals such
as aluminum
• Not durable enough for high end automotive
applications
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7. Physical Vapor Deposition
(Sputtering)
• Deposition of metal via bombardment by high
energy ions.
• This allows for Alloys to be created /
deposited uniformly as you can bombard
multiple metal targets simultaneously
• Coatings are generally chemically identical to
target material (Al, Cr, SS, etc)
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8. Not all PVD equipment and
systems are created equal
• All PVD coatings have
micro pores
• Lesser PVD coatings
have more defects
• Defects– allow a direct
path for a corrosive
electrolyte to access
the PVD layer, bc layer,
or the substrate 8

9. • Type of metal sputtered and parameters under
which it is sputtered effect the porosity of the
deposited film
• Ex. – CrN is generally finer and denser than TiN
(its less porous)
• Higher energy sputter Cr leads to denser films
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Not all PVD equipment and systems are
created equal

10. So if we have a good UV
coatings system, and a quality
metallizer – what will it do that
electroplating won’t???
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11. Design functionality for consumer safety
► NO change in substrate breaking strength
► NO splitters, flying metal particles, sharp edges
► Potential for flexible systems
Applications:
• airbag emblems
• overhead components
• body security parts
On TPE & Silicone Rubber
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12. Realization of advanced functionalities
Rf-transparent decorative PVD layers
 highly non-conductive metal layers (<100 kΩ)
 application for functionalized deco-components
 “hidden” antenna or sensor technology
 suitable also for capacitive or IR sensor technology
i.e. remote keys
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13. Design functionality
Day/night-design in metal look by laser etching
• “hidden“ display inside a metal looking panel
• ambient light
• Suitability for pad or screen printing
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14. Wide range of plastic substrates available
Wide range of appearances
 Decorative coatings
metallic effects at different gloss levels and functionalities
Chrome glossy, mat chrome, half transparent translux
 Decorative hard coatings (metal ceramics)
colored PVD layers on plastic and metal in different gloss levels
Dark chrome / black
chrome
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15. Multi color show: unlimited color
Effects realized by tinting UV topcoat
Wide range of appearances
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16. Additional features of PVD coatings
suitable for gluing
realization of filigree surface structure, e.g. brushed
effects on plastic as well as on metal substrates
suitable for ultrasonic, laser and vibration plastic
welding
form stability of plastic parts during metallization
process
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17. Environmental benefits
Environmentally-friendly processes and coatings:
High solids / low VOC, UV curable coatings
No use of Cr-Vl, Ni or any other toxic components
All coated components are environmentally-friendly
and recyclable despite their metallic character
No chemical disposal (as associated with
electroplating processes)
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18. Commercial applications –
show and tell
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19. 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit
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20. PVD wheels
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168hrs CASS
3yrs Florida exposure, field
validation

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22. Questions?
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23. Thank you!
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Jason T. Eich
Red Spot Paint and Varnish Co., Inc.
1107 E. Louisiana Street
Evansville, IN 47711 USA
jteich@redspot.com
Office: +1 812 428 9174

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• Adhesion
• Water Soak
• Humidity
• Thermal Shock
• Artificial Weathering
• Natural Weathering
• Chemical resistance
• Impact Testing
• Scratch & Mar
• Chip Resistance
• Salt Spray/Filliform
Automotive Criteria

25. Appliances Criteria
• Taber Abrasion
• MEK Solvent Rub
• Grease Resistance
• Stain Resistance
• Humidity Testing
• Heat Resistance
• Artificial Weathering
• Water Immersion
• Detergent Immersion
• Salt Spray
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