Research progress and application status of continuous physical vapor deposition coating on strip steel

Research Progress and Application Status of Continuous Physical Vapor Deposition for Steel Strip Coating

I. Research Progress

1. Principle and Advantages
• Continuous Physical Vapor Deposition (CPVD) is a technology that involves depositing materials onto a steel strip surface in a vacuum environment using physical methods such as high-temperature evaporation or sputtering. Compared with traditional electroplating and hot-dip galvanizing, CPVD offers superior surface quality, a wide range of material options, and environmental friendliness.
• In recent years, the application scope of CPVD in the steel strip coating field has been continuously expanding. The substrate temperature has been further reduced, and new types of coatings, composite coatings, and multilayer coatings have emerged.
2. Coating Materials and Performance Optimization
• Zinc-Magnesium Alloy Coatings are one of the current research hotspots. By designing multilayer structures, adjusting the magnesium content, and implementing controllable heat treatment, the corrosion resistance and adhesion properties of Zn-Mg coatings have been significantly improved.
• In addition to zinc-magnesium alloys, other new coating materials are also being explored, such as silicon carbide (SiC) films.
3. Process Innovation
• Thermal evaporation, magnetron sputtering, electron beam evaporation, and plasma-enhanced electron beam evaporation are the continuous steel strip vacuum coating processes closest to industrialization. These processes have been applied in the vacuum coating pilot lines of several steel companies.
• New technologies, such as Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD), are also gradually being introduced to further enhance the performance of deposited films.

II. Application Status

1. Automotive Industry
• CPVD technology plays an important role in the production of lightweight materials for the automotive industry, solving bottlenecks such as hydrogen embrittlement and platability. For example, ArcelorMittal's vacuum coating production line in Belgium has achieved industrial production, mainly used for surface treatment of automotive components.
2. Aerospace Industry
• In the aerospace field, CPVD technology is used to manufacture high-performance wear-resistant and high-temperature-resistant coatings. For example, NASA uses CVD technology to produce iridium high-temperature coatings to meet the strict requirements for high-temperature and corrosion resistance of aerospace components.
3. Mechanical Manufacturing
• CPVD coatings are widely used in wear-resistant coatings for mechanical parts, such as piston rings, injection cylinders, extrusion screws, and bearings, significantly improving the durability and service life of these components.
4. Electronics and Optics
• CPVD technology is used to produce high-performance electronic and optical films, such as silicon nitride and amorphous silicon. These films have important applications in the fields of microelectronics and optics.

III. Challenges and Future Development Directions

1. Stability and Cost Control in Mass Production
• Currently, CPVD technology still faces issues of insufficient stability and high costs in mass production. Future efforts need to focus on optimizing processes and reducing costs to achieve large-scale industrial applications.
2. Interdisciplinary Integration
• Future development will rely more on the integration of multiple disciplines, such as artificial intelligence, metallurgy, vacuum technology, thin-film physics, mechanical design and manufacturing, and automatic control, to meet the ever-evolving market demands.
3. New Coating Materials and Structures
• Research directions will focus on developing new coating materials and structures, such as gradient coatings and composite coatings, to further enhance coating performance and application scope.