09.24.15
For the first time, the Fraunhofer Institute for Organic Electronics, Electron Beam and Plasma Technology FEP will be presenting various large-area decorative solid-state thin films on metal surfaces during the V2015 (Oct. 12 – 15, 2015, Dresden, Wyndham Garden Hotel, booth No. 5).
Metallic surfaces must be able to meet many requirements: they should be scratch-resistant, water-repellent, matte or antibacterial. For the most part, surfaces should also be aesthetically appealing. Coatings must therefore take on numerous functionalities at once.
When one now considers entire house facades, coverings, or wall panels made out of sheet metal, then it is no longer a simple matter to evenly and decoratively coat such large areas.
The Fraunhofer FEP has several solutions in place. For years, the scientists have been working on technologies for surface layer coating. For example, they have roll-to-roll equipment where they are able to vacuum coat metal strips with differing materials and colors. On a gold-colored surface, for example, titanium nitride layers are used, which not only look decorative, but also protect the surface from deterioration and corrosion.
In contrast to such colors, which are induced through light absorption within the material of nitride or carbide layers, so-called interference colors are based upon thin transparent oxide layers (for example, titanium oxide). They produce especially brilliant colors. The interference effect is known from oil in a puddle, where the oil will shimmer in the most varied colors under the light of the sun. Depending on the desired colors, scientists are able to precisely apply the appropriate oxide layer in a vacuum. They can thus depict a great variety of colors in varying nuances.
Metallic surfaces must be able to meet many requirements: they should be scratch-resistant, water-repellent, matte or antibacterial. For the most part, surfaces should also be aesthetically appealing. Coatings must therefore take on numerous functionalities at once.
When one now considers entire house facades, coverings, or wall panels made out of sheet metal, then it is no longer a simple matter to evenly and decoratively coat such large areas.
The Fraunhofer FEP has several solutions in place. For years, the scientists have been working on technologies for surface layer coating. For example, they have roll-to-roll equipment where they are able to vacuum coat metal strips with differing materials and colors. On a gold-colored surface, for example, titanium nitride layers are used, which not only look decorative, but also protect the surface from deterioration and corrosion.
In contrast to such colors, which are induced through light absorption within the material of nitride or carbide layers, so-called interference colors are based upon thin transparent oxide layers (for example, titanium oxide). They produce especially brilliant colors. The interference effect is known from oil in a puddle, where the oil will shimmer in the most varied colors under the light of the sun. Depending on the desired colors, scientists are able to precisely apply the appropriate oxide layer in a vacuum. They can thus depict a great variety of colors in varying nuances.