An arc is ignited in a vacuum chamber between an electrode and a positively loaded arc cathode. The arc then evaporates the cathode material, which in a highly ionized form reacts in the vacuum chamber with a reactive gas (N2, C2H4) and condenses on the substrate as a nitride, carbide or carbon nitride.
The high evaporation rate makes arc evaporation suitable for applications in hard material and wear-part coating, in tribology coating (automotive industry) as well as in decorative coatings.
PLANSEE USA supplies Arc Cathodes in:
- refractory metals (Cr)
- aluminium alloys (AlTi, AlTiX, AlTiXY, AlCr)
- ceramic materials (WC)
