NANO4COLOR

Design and develop a new generation of color PVD coatings for decorative applications

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'We all like aesthetical pleasant colors in our every day products: kitchen and bath accessories; domestic appliances; architectural, nautical or automotive fittings; electronics components; jewelry; medical devices. In fact color coatings are present in most everyday products. PVD is one of the most promising coating processes offering brilliant and decorative finishes, superior hardness and wear resistance and lack of environmental concerns. Unfortunately PVD processes lack of reliability and high costs limit the use of PVD technologies to uncolored coatings, expensive components or large series. In Nano4Color we will develop a new strategy for the production of PVD hard decorative coatings based on nanocomposite coatings consisting of a dielectric matrix with imbibed metallic nanoclusters. Nano4color will work with two hybrid technologies; RMS/Cluster Gun and RMS/HIPISM to produce nanocomposite coatings that yield tailored optical properties with a single metal/metal oxide system. Our approach will allow overcoming the last barrier associated to the use of PVD coatings with a single composition color tailored solution resulting in greater freedom for color generation; including green and red tones. In addition we intend to design new industrial coating process, which are more reliable and cost effective. Nano4Color aims at making affordable PVD coatings for the production of everyday appliances while providing an extended color palette, increased wear resistance and lower toxic emissions. Nano4Color is expected to have a big impact on the 18,000 European SMEs working on decorative coatings with an estimated value of €11,350 M. These innovations will benefit the overall surface treatment sector by reducing production costs, increasing commercial margins and addressing industrial legislations. Furthermore these advantages will also benefit the industrial manufacturers who will be able to offer more pleasant products with lower costs and environmental emissions.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Novel coating materials and processing technology will soon make a rainbow of colours available for inexpensive consumer-oriented products such as home appliances and chandeliers.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Coatings have become ubiquitous, whether to impart aesthetic properties such as brilliant colours or shine or functional properties such as increased hardness or corrosion resistance. Physical vapour deposition (PVD) is an important plasma coating technology that relies on vaporising materials under vacuum conditions. It is one of the most promising processes as it delivers brilliant and decorative finishes with superior hardness and wear-resistance and minimal environmental impact.

Excessive cost and limited process reliability have prevented more widespread use in less expensive items for areas including construction, cars, appliances, and micro- and optoelectronics. EU-funded scientists are developing affordable PVD coating technology for improved coatings with work on the project 'Design and develop a new generation of colour PVD coatings for decorative applications' (http://www.inform.pt/nano4color/index.html (NANO4COLOR)).

Technology focuses on nanocomposite thin-film coatings (less than two microns) in a wide palette of colours. They are made of a dielectric matrix with embedded metallic nanoclusters. Hybrid processing technology will enhance reliability and decrease costs and toxic emissions. Reactive magnetron sputtering (RMS) is being combined with either high-power impulse magnetron sputtering (HIPIMS) or a cluster gun.

Scientists have selected three applications to ensure compatibility with large and complex geometries, transparent and opaque colours, and high coating uniformity of large areas with fine 3D details. The team has now developed the cluster gun prototype and a simulation of nanocluster formation. The gun was used in combination with the original two process technologies as well as a third, combined RMS and annealing, with very promising results.

The nanocomposite design as a route to tailor-made colours was validated showing that control of nanocluster size and distribution produced similar colours with all three coating techniques. Coloured nanocomposite coatings deposited using the cluster gun and HIPIMS have been fully characterised and product prototypes can be seen on the project website.

Affordable, durable and environmentally friendly coloured PVD coatings for a variety of everyday products will have important positive impact on producers of decorative coatings and of end-products. As for consumers, they can look forward to a wide variety of beautiful metallic colours in numerous products.