Preparation for Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD) Process or Electroplating
Before the PVD coating is applied, the substrate is cleaned by ultrasound in mass production facilities. The cleaning process is a multi-step process followed by rinsing steps and drying.
The ultrasonic cleaner system below was used to prepare burrs before a PVD process. Before coating, the parts need to be cleaned from oils, lubricants, cooling emulsion and particles as much as possible.
What is Physical vapour deposition (PVD)
Physical vapour deposition (PVD) are methods which can be used to produce thin films and coatings. PVD is a process in which the material goes from a condensed phase to a vapor phase and then back to a thin film condensed phase. The most common PVD processes are sputtering and evaporation. PVD is used in the manufacture of items which require thin films for mechanical, optical, chemical or electronic functions. Some examples include semiconductor devices such as thin film solar panels, aluminized PET film for food packaging and titanium nitride coated cutting tools for metalworking.
Surface Preparation prior to Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD) / Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD)
| Application | Substrate compatibility | Products | L/S | pH | Instructions for use | Technical Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil removal | Carbide / HSS | VACUKLEEN 347 | L | 14 | Conc.: 3-5 % T°C: 50-60°C / 122-140°F Time: 2-5 min | Highly alkaline and non-foaming liquid product, used in ultrasonic and spray processes for the total and rapid removal of machining oil. |
| Oil and grease removal | Carbide / HSS | VACUKLEEN 440 | L | 13.7 | Conc.: 3-5 % T°C: 50-60°C / 122-140°F Time: 2-5 min | Highly alkaline and non-foaming liquid product, used in ultrasonic and spray processes for the total and rapid removal of oil and polishing compounds. |
| Polishing, grinding compounds removal and oil residues | Carbide / HSS | VACUKLEEN 2018 | L | 14 | Conc.: 3-5 % T°C: 40-70°C / 104-158°F Time: 2-4 min | Highly alkaline liquid product, for the complete and rapid removal of grinding compounds and light oils, in ultrasonic processes. |
| Polishing compounds and oil residues removal | Carbide / HSS | VACUKLEEN SUPRA | L | 14 | Conc.: 3-5 % T°C: 60-70°C / 140-158°F Time: 3-5 min | Highly alkaline liquid product, used in ultrasonic processes, for the complete and rapid removal of oil and polishing compounds. |
| Finishing | Carbide / HSS | VACUKLEEN AC | L | 10.,4 | Conc.: 1-2 % T°C: 50-70°C / 122-158°F Time: 2-3 min | Slightly alkaline liquid product, used in ultrasonic processes, for the complete and rapid removal of polishing compounds. |
| VACUKLEEN 18.01 | L | 9.2 | Conc.: 1-5 % T°C: 40-70°C / 104-158°F Time: 2-5 min | Slightly alkaline liquid product, used in ultrasonic processes, for the removal of light oil, grinding oil, polishing compounds and fingerprints. | ||
| GALVEX 18.07 | L | 9.2 | Conc.: 0,1-3 % T°C: 40-60°C / 104-140°F Time: 3-5 min | Lightly alkaline liquid, antistatic effect, designed for degreasing and finishing of surfaces, prior to hot air drying. | ||
| Deoxidization | Carbide / HSS | VACUKLEEN 30 | L | 0.5 | Conc.: 3-5 % T°C: 40-60°C / 104-140°F Time: 2-3 min | Acidic liquid product, used in ultrasonic processes, to remove oxidation and condition surfaces prior to hot air or vacuum drying. |
L / P: Liquid or Powder
Surface Preparation prior to Electroplating
| Application | Substrate compatibility | Products | L/S | pH | Instructions for use | Technical Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polishing compounds removal, oil residues removal | All metals | GALVEX TM | L | 9.8 | Conc.: 2-5% T°C: 50-70°C / 122-158°F Time: 3-5 min | Lightly alkaline liquid used for the removal of slight oils, grinding compounds, polishing compounds and finger prints, in ultrasonic processes. |
| GALVEX 20.02 | L | 10.3 | Conc.: 2-5% T°C: 40-70°C / 104-158°F Time: 2-5 min | Lightly alkaline liquid, used for the removal of polishing compounds in ultrasonic or soaking processes. | ||
| NANOCLEAN 2018 | L | 9.5 | Conc.: 1-5% T°C: 40-60°C / 104-140°F Time: 3-5 min | Slightly alkaline liquid used in ultrasonic for the removal of cerium oxide, aluminium oxide, surfacing residues and fingerprints. | ||
| GALVAPREP SU 2018 | P | 10 (3% DI) | Conc.: 20-60 g/L T°C: 40-70°C / 104-158°F Time: 3-5 min | Alkaline powder used in ultrasonic processes to remove oils and polishing compounds prior to electroplating and vacuum deposition. | ||
| GP 17.40 SUP | P | 9.8 (3% DI) | Conc.: 5-20 g/L T°C: 40-70°C / 104-158°F Time: 1-3 min | Slightly alkaline powder for decontamination of surfaces, in ultrasonic processes. | ||
| Steel, stainless steel and ceramics | RODACLEAN 2018 | L | 14 | Conc.: 3-10 % T°C: 40-70°C / 104-158°F Time: 3-5 min | Highly alkaline liquid product for removing oil or polishing compound residues in ultrasonic processes. | |
| All metals except aluminium, zamac, zinc | SUPER GALVEX 001 | L | 9 | Conc.: 3-5 % T°C: 70-75°C / 158-167°F Time: 2-3 min | Universal degreaser, slightly alkaline, used to remove light oils, polishing compounds and finger prints, in ultrasonic processes. | |
| GALVEX 17.30 PLUS | L | 10.8 | Conc.: 1-3 % T°C: 70-80°C / 158-176°F Time: 2-3 min | Multi-purpose degreaser for ultrasonic or immersion processes. | ||
| MESSERCLEAN | L | 1.9 | Conc.: 3-10 % T°C: 35-60°C / 95-140°F Time: 30 s - 5 min | |||
| Deoxidization | All metals | SOLVIT N°3 | L | 0.9 | Conc.: 3-10 % T°C: 60-70°C / 140-158°F Time: 20 s - 5 min | Deoxidation and degreasing prior to vacuum metallization and electroplating, in ultrasonic processes. |
| All metals except aluminium and zamac | CERACLEAN SP | L | 0.5 | Conc.: 3-10 % T°C: 45-60°C / 113-140°F Time: 2-4 min | Liquid product used in ultrasonic processes to obtain a spot free finish on all surfaces, prior to hot air drying. | |
| Electrocleaner | All metals | GALVAPREP SP GL | P | 11.6 (3% DI) | Conc.: 40-60 g/L T°C: 40-50°C / 104-122°F Time: 1-2 min | |
| Activation | Steel, stainless steel | NGL 17.41 P | P | 12.5 (3% DI) | Conc.:30-50 g/L T°C: 50-60°C / 122-140°F Time: 2-4 min | Alkaline powder for the preparation of surfaces prior to vacuum metallisation. |
| Neutralisation and activation | Copper alloys | GALVAPREP 707 | P | 1.,5 (3% DI) | Conc.: 40-60 g/L T°C: 20°C / 68°F Time: 10-30 s | |
| Finishing | All metals | GALVEX 18.08 | L | 9.4 | Conc.: 0,1-3 % T°C: 40-60°C / 104-140°F Time: 3-5 min | Lightly alkaline liquid, antistatic effect, designed for degreasing and finishing of surfaces, prior to hot air drying. |
| FINISH AID SUPER 7 | L | 8 | Conc.: 0,02-0,1 % T°C: 40-60°C / 104-140°F Time: 2-3 min | |||
| Anti-corrosion protection | Steel | KORROSTOP 5000 | L | 12.3 | Conc.: 0,02-0,1 % T°C: 20-30°C / 68-86°F Time: 2-3 min | Anticorrosion additive for the protection of sensitive steel following an aqueous cleaning process. |
L / P: Liquid or Powder
DI: demineralized water
