Introduction
The process of surface treatment is not a new one in the industrial and manufacturing worlds. In many applications, a surface must be treated or prepared in some way in order to make it more suitable or resistant to certain environmental conditions, or to induce certain desirable properties within the material. Therefore, surface treatment is an extremely important and necessary step within production processes. With the introduction of different technical advances, the way in which surface treatments are achieved have been greatly changed and improved. This article will discuss new methods of surface treatment with regards to their currently available working principles, applications and future potential.
Working Principles
Modern surface treatment methods involve many sophisticated applications that help to improve and manipulate the surface properties. One of the most important and commonly used technologies is the vacuum-based plasma technology, which uses a vacuum chamber and plasma to create a highly reactive process environment. This can be used for the deposition of protective coatings and for the surface functionalization of many different materials. In the case of copper, for example, the plasma-based surface treatment creates a protective layer of copper oxide, which prevents further oxidation.
Another innovative technology is the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method, which also uses a vacuum-based system to deposit metallic or ceramic layers. The CVD process works by introducing a precursor gas into the vacuum chamber, usually consisting of organic molecules, which vaporize and form a polymer film on the substrate when exposed to the high temperature. This method is often used in the production of nanomaterials, in which a substrate is coated with extremely thin layers of various nanomaterials.
Other modern surface treatments include electrochemical processes, gas phase-based surface treatments, laser treatments and etching methods. Electrochemical methods are used to control the surface properties of metals, while gas phase-based treatments can be used to deposit dielectric layers. Laser treatments are used to drill holes, or to clean the surface of a material by removing oxidation and other contaminants. Lastly, etching techniques are used to pattern the surface of a material or to fabricate interconnects.
Applications
Surface treatments can be used in a variety of applications, mainly in the industrial, medical and automotive sectors. One of the most common applications of surface treatment involves industrial machining and cutting, where the surface of a substrate needs to be prepared for further processing or increased levels of performance. In the medical field, surface treatments are used to create materials which are highly resistant to bacteria and other contaminants, which can aid in the production of biostable components like implants and prostheses.
Lastly, in the automotive industry, surface treatments are important for increasing the performance of car components, like engine blocks and pistons. By using specialized surface treatments, automakers can improve the tribological properties, thermal efficiency and durability of different components.
Conclusion
Despite surface treatments being a crucial part of many industries and manufacturing processes, the methods used to achieve them have continually advanced with the help of new technologies and techniques. These advances have enabled surface treatments to become more efficient, and have opened the door to increases in their applications; from metal cutting and medical implants to automotive components and nanomaterials. From this, it is clear that surface treatment is an important and continually advancing technology, with many potential applications.
