ION BEAM ASSISTED DEPOSITION: A REPLACEMENT FOR WET CHEMICAL PLATING

IN RECENT YEARS, CORROSION AND OXIDATION RESISTANT PLATING PROCESSES HAVE COME UNDER CRITICISM FROM THE GOVERNMENT REGULATORY BODIES (E.G., ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, EPA, AND OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, OSHA). IN PARTICULAR, CADMIUM AND CHROMIUM PLATING PRACTICES ARE UNDER SEVERE PRESSURE. THE PLATING OPERATIONS ARE PERFORMED IN A CHEMICAL BATH (WET PROCESS) AND DISPOSAL OF THE CHEMICALS AND EXPOSURE TO THE FUMES DURING OPERATION ARE MAJOR AREAS OF CONCERN. IT IS EXPECTED THAT WITHIN 10 YEARS THESE PLATING PROCEDURES WILL BE PROHIBITED. ACCORDINGLY, ENVIROMENTALLY FRIENDLY COATING PROCESSES MUST BE RESEARCHED AND ADOPTED. SPIRE PROPOSES TO INVESTIGATE THE FEASIBILITY OF USING THE ION BEAM ASSISTED DEPOSITION (IBAD) PROCESS AS A REPLACEMENT FOR THESE OPERATIONS. THE IBAD PROCESS IS A CLEAN, REPRODUCIBLE VACUUM-BASED COATING PROCESS WHICH HAS SHOWN GREAT PROMISE FOR COATING A WIDE VARIETY OF SUBSTRATE MATERIALS. SPIRE IS PIONEERING RESEARCH IN ADVANCING IBAD TO AN EFFECTIVE WIDE-SCALE INDUSTRIAL COATING PROCESS. THE PROCESS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO NOT ONLY ELIMINATE THE HAZARDOUS WASTE ASSOCIATED WITH WET CHEMICAL PLATING, BUT ALSO TO PROVIDE TECHNICALLY SUPERIOR HIGH PERFORMANCE COATINGS.