What Is Coating Equipment?
Coating equipment is equipment for covering an object or surface with a specific substance.
Coating is the covering of the surface of an object with a material that can be fixed. In the food processing field, it is sometimes called coaching. The most suitable coating equipment is selected based on the shape of the object, the material, and the coating material. In the case of thin film coating equipment, we will consider whether it is small, large, for R&D, or for mass production, and in some cases, we will consider customizing the equipment by special order.
Uses of Coating Equipments
Coating equipment is used in a wide variety of fields, including automobiles, aircraft, precision equipment, metals, tableware, food, and medical products.
They are used for a variety of applications, including Teflon coating on frying pans and other food processing equipment, moisture-proof coating of electronic circuit boards in automobiles and aircraft, food processing coatings for confectionery, pet food, etc., and tablet coating for medicines.
Principle of Coating Equipments
Coating is a type of surface treatment and is a film forming technology that adheres a thin film to the surface of a product. Coating is also called vapor deposition processing. In vapor deposition processing, evaporation materials are evaporated and vaporized to form a thin film on the surface of a product.
In general, vapor deposition can increase surface strength, and can also add decorative, optical (reflective/transmissive), and functional properties to a product. Various types of vapor deposition materials are available, such as gold, silver, aluminum, chrome, and zirconia, which are vaporized and coated as a thin film on the surface of the product.
Type of Coating Equipment
There are various types of coatings depending on the object to be coated and the coating material, such as Teflon coating equipment for coating fluoropolymers, PR coating equipment for coating photoresist on copper foil, PVD coating equipment based on DLC diamond-like carbon films, food coating equipment for stirring and seasoning food, ICF coating equipment for coating true carbon films, and DLC coating equipment for coating diamond-like carbon films. ICF coating equipment, DLC coating equipment that uses diamond-like carbon films, and various other coatings depending on the object to be coated and the coating material.
1. DLC Equipment
DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) coating equipment is a thin film of carbon with an amorphous structure (a film with diamond and graphite sp3/sp2 bonds). It can be coated in nano-level thinness and can add very high hardness and wear resistance to objects.
It is used to prolong the life of cutting tools, dies, punches, and various machine parts. The use of coated tools can also be expected to improve the finish and prevent welding in aluminum machining. The PVD (physical vapor deposition) method, which utilizes vaporization, does not require hydrogen for deposition.
Diamond-like carbon films are formed by decomposing C6H6 (benzene) in plasma using a special ion source in a vacuum. The plasma area is controlled by a multi-ion source and a substrate rotation mechanism to ensure uniform coating with strong adhesion, even on complex-shaped objects. It is characterized by high hardness (micro-Vickers hardness of 2,000 to 4,000), low coefficient of friction (μ = 0.2 or less), surface smoothness, and excellent resistance to welding and mold release, similar to diamond properties.
2. Fluidized Bed Coating Equipment for Food Processing
Coatings are used not only for chemicals and paints but also for food processing. Fluidized bed coating equipment is a coating equipment developed by applying the fluidized bed of a barrel polishing machine. The polishing technology of the polishing machine is applied to the coating technology.
The fluidized bed is sloped to allow for overflow, and various types of flow can be created. Uniform coating is possible in a short time, and high-quality food processing is possible with a few personnel.
3. Substrate Coating Equipment
Coating equipment used for coating substrates with moisture-proof insulating materials. The problem with conventional coating equipment is that it coats areas other than the base of the equipment. The substrate coating equipment does not require masking and the program automatically detects the area to be coated. Spraying the substrate enables efficient coating over a wide area or spot.
4. Titanium Nitride Coating Equipment
This coating equipment is often used for PVD coating. It is possible to achieve a well-balanced coating when adding hardness and heat resistance. It is particularly suited for coating tools and metals due to its excellent wear resistance. It has high adhesion and is sometimes used as a base coating for other ceramic materials.
It is important to note that the object must be thoroughly cleaned before coating. Dirt and rust generated from the surface can combine with the coating components, causing peeling, reduced adhesion, and discoloration. In addition, since the coating is applied in a high-temperature vacuum layer, resin materials must be handled with care.
Other Information on Coating Equipment
Features of Coating Equipment
The characteristics of vapor deposition processing are that it can be applied to a wide range of materials, including metals, nonferrous materials such as aluminum, and resins. Electroplating is a typical surface treatment that uses electric current to perform surface treatment, so even for non-conductive products such as aluminum and resin, vapor deposition can be performed without applying a load of electric current to the vapor-deposited material or product.