Metal surface treatment is a foundational technology in manufacturing, with its objectives expanding from traditional corrosion and wear resistance to high-end applications such as enhancing optical, electrical, and biocompatible properties. With the explosive growth of industries like new energy vehicles, aerospace, and microelectronics, modern surface treatment technologies—such as Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD), Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD), and laser surface treatment—are spearheading a new technological revolution.
1. Modern Surface Treatment Technologies: Breakthroughs from 2D to 3D
1.1 Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD): Pursuing Ultimate Film Performance
PVD forms high-quality, dense films on metal surfaces through physical vaporization and deposition in a vacuum environment, widely used in cutting tools, molds, and decorative applications. Its core advantages include:
High-performance coatings: Ceramic coatings like TiN and CrN achieve hardness exceeding HV3000, improving wear resistance by 10 times.
Environmental friendliness: No chemical waste discharge, complying with RoHS standards.
Precision control: Coating thickness can be adjusted from nanoscale to microscale by modifying process parameters.
For example, Balzers' PVD-coated milling cutters demonstrate a 5-fold increase in lifespan and a 30% improvement in processing efficiency when machining titanium alloys compared to uncoated tools.
1.2 Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD): Precise Control of Complex Structures
CVD deposits films on metal surfaces through gas-phase chemical reactions, suitable for high-temperature and high-pressure environments. Its unique value lies in:
Conformal coating capability: Enables deposition on complex-shaped workpieces, such as turbine blade inner cavities.
Purity control: Achieves 99.999% coating purity through precise regulation of gas flow and reaction temperature.
Versatility: Supports deposition of oxides, nitrides, carbides, and other materials.
In the semiconductor industry, CVD is critical for fabricating high-dielectric-constant (High-k) materials.
1.3 Laser Surface Treatment: Precise Modulation of Microstructures
Laser surface treatment modifies, clads, or alloys metal surfaces through high-energy laser-material interactions. Its core strengths include:
Non-contact processing: Avoids deformation caused by mechanical stress.
Localized treatment: Enables targeted repair of worn or corroded areas.
Functional versatility: Achieves hardening, cladding, texturing, and other effects by adjusting laser parameters.
In aerospace, laser cladding technology repairs cracks in turbine engine blades. General Electric (GE) extended blade lifespan from 5,000 to 15,000 hours using nickel-based alloy laser cladding layers.
2. Green Surface Treatment: Balancing Environmental Protection and Performance
Traditional surface treatment technologies (e.g., electroplating, chemical polishing) face stringent environmental regulations due to heavy metal wastewater and toxic gas emissions. Green surface treatment technologies achieve dual improvements in environmental sustainability and performance by replacing toxic substances and optimizing processes.
2.1 Green Pretreatment: From Phosphating to Silanization
Silanization technology is replacing traditional phosphating processes, which incur high costs for phosphorus-containing wastewater treatment. Silanization forms dense conversion films through organic silane-metal surface reactions, offering advantages such as:
Environmental friendliness: Eliminates phosphorus and heavy metals, reducing wastewater treatment costs by 70%.
Corrosion resistance: Achieves over 1,000 hours in neutral salt spray (NSS) tests.
Enhanced coating adhesion: Improves adhesion by 30% compared to phosphating films.
BMW adopted silanization pretreatment, boosting automotive body coating corrosion resistance by 50% while reducing wastewater discharge by 90%.
2.2 Electroless Plating Technology: Transitioning from Chemical to Physical Approaches
Electroless (chemical) plating deposits metal layers via autocatalytic reactions, widely used in electronics and automotive industries. Its primary challenges include bath stability and cost. Recently, graphene-based electroless plating has emerged as a game-changer:
Rapid deposition: Completes degreasing, deoiling, pickling, neutralization, and passivation in under 1 minute.
High performance: Achieves hardness exceeding HV600 and corrosion resistance 3 times greater than traditional coatings.
Environmental safety: Eliminates cyanide and hexavalent chromium.
3. Future Trends: From Single Functionality to System Integration
Metal surface treatment technologies are evolving from single-function solutions to multifunctional integration. Examples include:
Self-cleaning coatings: Mimicking lotus leaf micro-nanostructures for superhydrophobicity and self-cleaning.
Smart coatings: Incorporating sensors and responsive materials for adaptive temperature and stress regulation.
Biocompatible coatings: Enhancing bone integration performance of titanium alloy implants through surface functionalization.
Additionally, with the proliferation of 3D printing, surface treatment must integrate deeply with additive manufacturing. For instance, titanium alloy parts fabricated via Selective Laser Melting (SLM) require hybrid processes combining laser polishing and PVD coating to eliminate surface defects and improve wear resistance.
AMTD provides high-precision Showerhead (spray head/gas distribution plate/uniform gas plate) services for core components. Its product lineup includes Showerheads, Face Plates, Blocker Plates, Top Plates, Shields, Liners, Pumping Rings, Edge Rings, and other critical semiconductor equipment parts. These products are widely used in semiconductor and display panel industries, delivering exceptional performance and high market recognition.
Content Sources:
Comprehensive Guide to Metal Surface Treatment (WeChat Public Platform)
Research on Metal Surface Treatment Technologies and Wastewater Treatment (Leather Manufacture and Environmental Technology)
General Electric (GE): Application of Laser Cladding Technology in Aerospace Engine Repair
