Vacuum metalizing is when manufacturers apply aluminum, copper, stainless steel, nickel-chrome, or other metal coatings to the shell of a product to increase its durability or conductive abilities. If you’re curious to know what are the applications of vacuuming metalizing, check out the blog below.
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EMI Shielding
EMI shields are used in electronics to protect the tech from getting signal interference from electromagnetic waves. Your phone could randomly drop calls or erase data without an EMI shield. In this case, metallization is used to help with conductivity. When working with small tech like with cell phones, vacuum-applying conductive metals like copper allows them to work in cramped conditions effectively.
Car Parts
Vacuum metalizing is used in automotive applications to enhance the durability and appearance of a part. It’s mostly used on car lights, dash pieces, and since cars now have computers, on any EMI shielding devices. By only placing a metal shell on the product, manufacturers can cut costs on the material by not having to make the entire thing metal. Because if there is only one thing manufacturers know about metalizing plastics, it can save money while still producing a high-quality-looking part.
Sporting Goods
One application for vacuum metallization that is more familiar to people is their use in producing sporting goods. The protective metal layer is placed over safety equipment like football helmet facemasks to increase their strength and durability. Also, the metal can be colored to the teams’ colors. While the paint is only for decorative purposes, the metal coating protects the core from rust and weathering by providing a protective coating.
Aerospace
Vacuum metallization also gets used in aerospace applications because when using certain metals, the material can protect from radiation while minimizing heat flow transfer. This thermal protection is crucial to helping the materials survive the harsh conditions of space while drawing solar power from the sun.
Now you have an answer to the question, “What are the applications of vacuuming metalizing?” You’ve probably realized that you see it every day; you just hadn’t noticed it.