What is PVD coloured stainless steel?

What is PVD Coloured Stainless Steel?

PVD coloured stainless steel is not only used in sculpture, jewellery, and phones but is also robust enough to be specified by interior designers and architects for both interior and exterior architectural applications.

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PVD Coating - A Spectrum of Colour Options

When it comes to stainless steel, your options aren't just limited to silver. The Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD) process offers a veritable rainbow of colour opportunities.

The Process of PVD Coating

The initial step in the PVD process involves meticulously cleaning the stainless steel to ensure a robust bond for the coating. The steel is then placed in a vacuum chamber with a "target" metal. A high vacuum level is sustained in the chamber, and a small amount of argon gas is introduced. A high voltage circuit prompts bonding between the stainless steel and the target. Argon ions bombard the target metal, releasing its atoms, which are then deposited onto the stainless steel surface as a coating. This method, known as sputtering, results in a durable and shiny plasma coating on the steel.

The type of coloured surface coatings achievable through PVD include: gold (TiN), rose gold (ZrN), bronze (TiAlN), blue (TiAlN), black (TiAlCN), and dark red (ZrN). The thin ceramic coating maintains the texture of the original finish while offering a uniform appearance and better abrasion resistance compared to traditional electrochemical colouring methods.

Wear and Weather Resistant

Though the PVD process doesn’t alter the original texture and structure of the stainless steel, it significantly enhances the product's lifespan and minimizes maintenance needs. It is ideal for wear and weather-resistant applications like door hardware. Nonetheless, aggressive damage to the coating can be irreparable. Compared to other coatings of similar thickness, PVD offers greater durability.

An Environmentally Friendly Process

PVD coating is also more environmentally responsible compared to alternatives such as electroplating and painting, as it involves no gas, water waste, or residue release. Additionally, the process does not diminish the stainless steel's recycling value.

Uses for PVD Coated Stainless Steel

Architectural

PVD coloured stainless steel is extensively used in architectural and industrial design. Applications include curtain walls, cladding, and profiles for hotels and casinos, shopping centres, railway stations, and high-end retail stores' facades and fit-outs.

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Transport

In the transport industry, PVD coated stainless steel can be used for ceiling and wall cladding in shipping or for seating, skirting, and panelling on trains.

Ironmongery

On a smaller scale, PVD coloured steel is used in display cases, furniture, lighting fixtures, door handles, and taps.

Jewellery

The PVD process enables striking colours in stainless steel jewellery. Available colours include gold, rose gold, coffee, black, dark grey, and blue, in polished, satin, or matt finishes.

For gold and rose gold finishes, real gold (14K or 18K) is evaporated and deposited on the part under high temperatures or through ion bombardment. The achieved shade of gold depends on the gold content of the target. Additional colours are created using colour pigments or gas together with the TiN layer.

How Long Does Coloured Stainless Steel PVD Coating Last?

PVD is the generic name for a range of hard, durable, wear-resistant thin coatings.

PVD coloured stainless steel is an innovation in the creation of coloured steel, enhancing its surface to be significantly harder and more durable. The PVD process increases wear, scratch, and corrosion resistance, surpassing conventional coating methods like electroplating or powder-coating.

The PVD process is also more environmentally friendly compared to electroplating and painting, as it produces zero discharge of gas, water waste, or other residue.

PVD coatings offer numerous benefits. They provide long-lasting protection from daily wear, enhancing both durability and value. Traditional electroplating methods require clear coats that degrade over time and can easily tarnish or corrode. In contrast, PVD requires no such top coats, maintaining its integrity and resisting corrosion and scratching long-term.

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