Decorative metallic coating for plastic parts. ePD™ is short for embedded PVD. Conventional metal coatings use chromium III and chromium VI, which are toxic to humans and the environment. This coating consists of three layers; the metallization effect is sandwiched between two layers of UV lacquer. The process is completely automated and is achieved by the INUBIA I6 and I12 systems. The first layer is the base coat. This base coat equalizes irregularities on the surface of the plastic. The inline PVD is placed on top of this base layer through magnetron sputtering in a vacuum chamber. This process produces an exceptionally stable coating with high microstructure density and leaves no harmful ions behind. A final UV coating is applied to the metalized coating for protection. This process consumes less energy and avoids hazardous waste. ePD™ coated parts are also recyclable. This technology also has improved corrosion resistance and can be applied to a broader range of polymeric materials. This coating is also more flexible, attenuating impacts and minimizing the breaking of edges. Automated production allows for large-scale production.
