Applications of Ion Plating

A main use of ion plating is to coat steel and other metals and alloys with special films, such as for tribological applications and with extremely hard films and film combinations, to increase surface hardness and life time of various tools, but also to create a durable decorative effect on metal parts. 

Schematic representaton of die roll-to-roll coating aparatus detail and vacuum system showing the magnetron source in position. 1 = motor, 2 = main drum, 3 = wind-on roll, 4 = wind-off roll, 

The roll-to-roll coating apparatus with open chamber [383]. 

It can be concluded that the high degree of ion plating variants which exist in instrumental set-ups and evaporation media are responsible for the many new terms that have been generated to designate a particular system more specifically. 

The different versions in existence may be classified according to Spalvins [386] as to the media, evaporation source and mode of transport into two categories low vacuum ion plating (self-sustained glow discharge plasma) resistance evaporation electron-beam evaporation induction evaporation sputtering 

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The concept and application of ion plating was first reported in the technical literature in 1964. The technique was initially used for the improvement of adhesion and surface coverage as well as the densifying of PVD films. The technique was subsequently shown to enhance chemical reactions in the reactive deposition of compound thin films. Later it was shown that the concurrent bombardment could be used where the depositing atoms were from a chemical vapor precursor. The bombardment was shown to control film properties such as density and residual film stress. An early review was written on the ion plating process in 1973. ... 

M.I. Ridge, The application of ion plating to the continuous coating of flexible plastic sheet. Thin Solid Films, 80 (1980) 31. 

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