الثلاثاء، 1 نوفمبر 2016

Los Angeles Metalizing Service Companies And Firms

By Frank Cole


The process through which surfaces and objects are coated with metal coating is referred to as metallization. The term substrate is used to denote the object or surface being metalized. In Los Angeles metalizing is a full-blown industry with many companies operating within it. Service companies in this region lease metalizing equipment and offer the service itself too. Rates for hiring a service company in Los Angeles are affordable.

The process of metallization has a long history today. The oldest records of its existence are usually traced back to mirror making in the year 1835. The process was first used to make mirrors by using metallic silver to coat glass surfaces. The process was still in its infancy at that time and would soon be improved significantly. Better technology has made this process sophisticated and more advanced.

At the time of invention, the range of materials that could be metalized was limited to only a few. Mostly only metallic surfaces could be metalized. However, with the introduction of ABS plastic, the range of materials that could be metalized grew exponentially to include non-metallic surfaces. Several different methods of doing the process were also invented. The invention of this process was done by a German named Justus von Liebig.

The coating of non-metallic surfaces or objects often presents a challenge because they are not good conductors. Non-conductors cannot conduct heat or electricity within them, something that is vital to this process. To overcome this shortcoming, non-metallic surfaces have to be made conductive first before the process can be done. This is usually done by chemically etching the surface using a suitable process.

Chemical etching is done using several different methods. One of the methods is to dip the substrate into a mixture of acids, preferably sulfuric and chromic acid. To achieve the required results, the acid mixture needs to be hot. Sensitization and activation of the non-metallic substrate must be done after chemical etching. This is done by dipping the substrate into tin (II) Chloride solution and palladium chloride. After this, the object is coated with electroless nickel or copper.

Proper and thorough site preparation must be done first before any of the processes named above can be undertaken. Which method is used for site preparation is determined by the kind of substrate in question. The importance of surface preparation is that it ensures that the resultant bond between substrates and metal coatings is very strong and durable.

Metalizing serves many different functions when applied properly on a substrate. First, it offers a protective layer over the substrate against corrosion and other elements. A single layer of metal coating can protect a surface for a period of more than thirty years. The duration of protection the layer provides depends on factors such as sealing, coating thickness, and application.

The design of the equipment used to metalize substrates is special. A vacuum chamber is comprised in the device where metallization occurs. The sizes vary a lot and determine the shape and size of substrates. Some are made to be handheld so that they can metalize irregular and huge substrates.




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