PVD stands for Physical Vapor Deposition. It is a thin-film coating process. This is a process applied in a vacuum chamber to deposit thin-film coatings on component surfaces.

PVD coating is carried out in a vacuum chamber at an extremely low-pressure range (typically 10^-3 to 10^-9 Torr. Standard atmospheric pressure is 760 Torr) where in the component to be coated is placed in front of a high purity target source in a plasma environment (ionized gas). A target is the primary material source used for the coating (for example: Titanium for Titanium Nitride, Chromium for Chromium Nitride, etc.) This process involves three critical steps:

1. Evaporation: Removal of material (atom-by-atom) from the target source using sputtering, cathodic arc, electron-beam or other methods.
2. Transportation: Transfer of material from the target source to the component surface under plasma due to potential difference between the target and substrate.
3. Condensation: Nucleation and growth of the coating on the component surface by combining the transferred target source atoms with reactive gases to form the ceramic (non-metallic) coating compound.

PVD coatings can be applied on components using different methods such as arc evaporation, magnetron sputtering to name a few. HEF specializes in plasma enhanced magnetron sputtering, CAM (coating assisted by microwaves) and modified arc evaporation coating technologies.

Yes. There are different types of PVD coatings that can be offered depending on the application requirements. Titanium Nitride (TiN), Chromium Nitride (CrN), Titanium Aluminum Nitride (TiAlN), Titanium Boron Nitride (TiBN) are some examples of PVD coatings.

PVD coatings offer the following benefits:

• High hardness
• Excellent wear resistance
• Reduced frictional properties
• Low deposition temperatures (120°C-350°C)
• Maintaining dimensional tolerances for precision components
• Excellent adhesion to substrates

In general, PVD coatings are thin film and are in the range of 1 to 5 microns. For reference, 25 microns equals 0.001 inches. Red blood cells are around 8 microns in diameter, while human hair is around 80 microns in diameter. Thus, PVD coatings are extremely thin-film coatings with thickness specification defined within this 1 to 5-micron range depending on the application requirement.

PVD coatings have a hardness value around 1500 – 4500 HV (Vickers) depending on the type of coating offered. Vickers (HV) is a microhardness unit for measuring thin film coatings. For reference, 900 HV corresponds to 67 HRC (Rockwell C) hardness. Generally, carbon steels have a hardness range around 250 HV (25 HRC), nitrided or nickel and chrome plated steels fall in the range of 600 HV to 1000 HV surface hardness. Thus, PVD coatings are extremely hard and hence, very durable and wear resistant.

CERTESS^® NITRO is a tradename of HEF Group for Nitrogen based PVD coatings. Depending on your application, there are different options that can be provided within the family of CERTESS^® NITRO coatings. Some of these include:

• CERTESS Ti (TiN)
• CERTESS X (CrN)
• CERTESS T (TiAlN)

Very often chemical processes take place in a closely defined and frequently very narrow temperature range. In industrial plants, salts are used as heat transfer media for heating and cooling as well as for holding at constant temperature.

Fields of Application

• Heating of chemical reactors for endothermic processes. For instance, the commercial syntheses in packed-bed tubular reactors for heterogeneous gas phase reactions.
• Cooling of exothermal reactions for chemical syntheses processes (the removed heat can be recovered).
• Heat Storage in CPS Solar Power Plants for the time-delayed generation of electricity
• Drying of Gases
• Heat Recovery
• General Heat Transfer in Process Engineering

Examples of Use

• Production of phthalic acid (PAA) and maleic acid anhydride (MAA)
• Production of acrylic acid as basic material for acrylates, coloring and super absorber materials
• Production of methyl-methacryla tes as basic material for flat screens (sheets), acrylic glass and adhesives
• Melamine syntheses
• Hydrogenation and dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons
• Polymerisation reactions

RUBBERCURE products are special designed heat transfer salts used with great success for the vulcanization of rubber profiles, which are for example continuously extruded. Some of their advantages are:

• High vulcanization speed
• Compact profile surface without any porosity
• High long-term thermal stability of the salt melt
• Excellent protection against corrosive attack
• Rubber profiles are easy to clean

Very often chemical processes take place in a closely defined and frequently very narrow temperature range. In industrial plants, salts are used as heat transfer media for heating and cooling as well as for holding at constant temperature.

Fields of Application

• Heating of chemical reactors for endothermic processes. For instance, the commercial syntheses in packed-bed tubular reactors for heterogeneous gas phase reactions.
• Cooling of exothermal reactions for chemical syntheses processes (the removed heat can be recovered).
• Heat Storage in CPS Solar Power Plants for the time-delayed generation of electricity
• Drying of Gases
• Heat Recovery
• General Heat Transfer in Process Engineering

Examples of Use

• Production of phthalic acid (PAA) and maleic acid anhydride (MAA)
• Production of acrylic acid as basic material for acrylates, coloring and super absorber materials
• Production of methyl-methacryla tes as basic material for flat screens (sheets), acrylic glass and adhesives
• Melamine syntheses
• Hydrogenation and dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons
• Polymerisation reactions

Electroless nickel plating is an auto-catalytic chemical process that deposits a nickel phosphorus alloy on metallic substrate materials; this process does not use an electric current.

Key advantages are excellent corrosion resistance, improved wear resistance, and a uniform coating thickness with the ability to evenly coat complex geometries

Most metallic materials to include steel, aluminum, copper, and brass.

Electroless nickel is typically classified by its phosphorus content: Low (2 – 5%), Medium (6-9%), and High (10-12%). Each class offers different properties in terms of hardness, corrosion resistance, and ductility.

Yes. Post-plating heat treatment can be used for hydrogen embrittlement relief or an increase in hardness. Hardness values can get up to roughly 64 HRc.

Electroless nickel plating uses a chemical process, while electroplating uses an electric current. Electroless nickel offers much better uniformity, while electroplating tends to be more cost effective for simple shapes.

Electroless nickel is used in a wide variety of industries to include aerospace, automotive, oil & gas, industrial equipment, automation and many more.

Yes. Many electroless nickel coatings can be stripped and replated without significant changes to the substrate surface or dimensions.

Absolutely. Modern electroless nickel baths use advanced formulations and strict process control to ensure consistent, high-quality plating deposits.

Very often chemical processes take place in a closely defined and frequently very narrow temperature range. In industrial plants, salts are used as heat transfer media for heating and cooling as well as for holding at constant temperature.

Fields of Application

• Heating of chemical reactors for endothermic processes. For instance, the commercial syntheses in packed-bed tubular reactors for heterogeneous gas phase reactions.
• Cooling of exothermal reactions for chemical syntheses processes (the removed heat can be recovered).
• Heat Storage in CPS Solar Power Plants for the time-delayed generation of electricity
• Drying of Gases
• Heat Recovery
• General Heat Transfer in Process Engineering

Examples of Use

• Production of phthalic acid (PAA) and maleic acid anhydride (MAA)
• Production of acrylic acid as basic material for acrylates, coloring and super absorber materials
• Production of methyl-methacryla tes as basic material for flat screens (sheets), acrylic glass and adhesives
• Melamine syntheses
• Hydrogenation and dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons
• Polymerisation reactions

RUBBERCURE products are special designed heat transfer salts used with great success for the vulcanization of rubber profiles, which are for example continuously extruded. Some of their advantages are:

• High vulcanization speed
• Compact profile surface without any porosity
• High long-term thermal stability of the salt melt
• Excellent protection against corrosive attack
• Rubber profiles are easy to clean

Very often chemical processes take place in a closely defined and frequently very narrow temperature range. In industrial plants, salts are used as heat transfer media for heating and cooling as well as for holding at constant temperature.

Fields of Application

• Heating of chemical reactors for endothermic processes. For instance, the commercial syntheses in packed-bed tubular reactors for heterogeneous gas phase reactions.
• Cooling of exothermal reactions for chemical syntheses processes (the removed heat can be recovered).
• Heat Storage in CPS Solar Power Plants for the time-delayed generation of electricity
• Drying of Gases
• Heat Recovery
• General Heat Transfer in Process Engineering

Examples of Use

• Production of phthalic acid (PAA) and maleic acid anhydride (MAA)
• Production of acrylic acid as basic material for acrylates, coloring and super absorber materials
• Production of methyl-methacryla tes as basic material for flat screens (sheets), acrylic glass and adhesives
• Melamine syntheses
• Hydrogenation and dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons
• Polymerisation reactions

Liquid Nitriding (LN) is a common term for a diffusion process that is actually liquid nitrocarburizing; a thermo-chemical reaction whereby nitrogen, primarily, and some carbon are diffused into the surface of iron-based materials. The nitrogen combines with the iron to form an iron-nitride compound layer that provides improved surface properties; e.g. resistance to wear, friction, corrosion, and fatigue.

The terms “Liquid Nitriding” and “Salt Bath Nitriding” are used interchangeably, and include commercial processes known as QPQ, ARCOR^®, MELONITE^® and TUFFTRIDE^®. All are actually nitrocarburizing processes that use molten salts as a source of nitrogen (+ some carbon). Different trade names are used due to differences in the chemistry of the nitriding chemicals and the secondary processing steps.

Nitriding provides only nitrogen to the surface of the work piece, and is normally accomplished in gas or plasma atmospheres, using much longer cycles to achieve deep diffusion depth. Nitrocarburizing supplies both nitrogen and some carbon; can be performed in either liquid (salt bath) or gas atmospheres; and uses much shorter time cycles to produce comparatively shallow diffusion depth.

MELONITE^®, TUFFTRIDE^® and ARCOR^® are all liquid nitrocarburizing processes, and trademarks of the HEF Group (TS USA and HEF USA are US subsidiaries). MELONITE^® and TUFTRIDE^® are identical processes – the former term is prevalent in North America, and the latter term in the rest of the world. However, ARCOR^® represents a family of LN processes, including ARCOR^® C, V, N, DT, and others, which were developed to address specific applications and/or materials. These ARCOR^® treatments provide a more robust and consistent compound layer; are operationally easier to control and environmentally friendlier than other liquid nitriding treatments.

“QPQ” stands for “Quench-Polish-Quench”, which describes a sequence of secondary steps following the liquid nitriding step. These steps entail the sequence: (1) OXIDATION: 2-3 microns of the surface layer is transformed to an iron oxide. This is done by immersing the parts in specially formulated ‘salts’ between 400°C – 425°C (750°F -800°F); (2) POLISHING: to improve surface finish and (3) RE-OXIDATION: to recover the oxide layer thickness that may have been lost during the polishing step. QPQ is prescribed when a smooth surface finish and maximum corrosion protection are required.

Nitriding, or, nitrocarburizing, can be accomplished using four different media: 1) Liquid; 2) Gas; 3) Plasma; and 4) Fluidized Bed. All methods are intended to accomplish similar – though not identical – results. However, liquid is considered the benchmark for uniformity, consistency, and flexibility. Liquid Nitriding also provides the best combination of wear and corrosion protection and the shortest processing times.

Liquid Nitriding is not a coating or plating: it is a diffusion process that modifies/transforms the surface of the treated component. This modified surface layer is well integrated with the bulk material – hence it is not susceptible to flaking or peeling.

Liquid Nitriding is often referred to as a heat treatment; but, this is technically incorrect. True heat treating processes operate at higher temperatures, and transform the crystal structure of the steel to produce the desired mechanical properties. Liquid Nitriding achieves results by means of a chemical reaction (at temperatures lower than conventional heat treatment) that leads to the formation of a hard nitride compound on the surface of the component.

Very often chemical processes take place in a closely defined and frequently very narrow temperature range. In industrial plants, salts are used as heat transfer media for heating and cooling as well as for holding at constant temperature.

Fields of Application

• Heating of chemical reactors for endothermic processes. For instance, the commercial syntheses in packed-bed tubular reactors for heterogeneous gas phase reactions.
• Cooling of exothermal reactions for chemical syntheses processes (the removed heat can be recovered).
• Heat Storage in CPS Solar Power Plants for the time-delayed generation of electricity
• Drying of Gases
• Heat Recovery
• General Heat Transfer in Process Engineering

Examples of Use

• Production of phthalic acid (PAA) and maleic acid anhydride (MAA)
• Production of acrylic acid as basic material for acrylates, coloring and super absorber materials
• Production of methyl-methacryla tes as basic material for flat screens (sheets), acrylic glass and adhesives
• Melamine syntheses
• Hydrogenation and dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons
• Polymerisation reactions

RUBBERCURE products are special designed heat transfer salts used with great success for the vulcanization of rubber profiles, which are for example continuously extruded. Some of their advantages are:

• High vulcanization speed
• Compact profile surface without any porosity
• High long-term thermal stability of the salt melt
• Excellent protection against corrosive attack
• Rubber profiles are easy to clean

Very often chemical processes take place in a closely defined and frequently very narrow temperature range. In industrial plants, salts are used as heat transfer media for heating and cooling as well as for holding at constant temperature.

Fields of Application

• Heating of chemical reactors for endothermic processes. For instance, the commercial syntheses in packed-bed tubular reactors for heterogeneous gas phase reactions.
• Cooling of exothermal reactions for chemical syntheses processes (the removed heat can be recovered).
• Heat Storage in CPS Solar Power Plants for the time-delayed generation of electricity
• Drying of Gases
• Heat Recovery
• General Heat Transfer in Process Engineering

Examples of Use

• Production of phthalic acid (PAA) and maleic acid anhydride (MAA)
• Production of acrylic acid as basic material for acrylates, coloring and super absorber materials
• Production of methyl-methacryla tes as basic material for flat screens (sheets), acrylic glass and adhesives
• Melamine syntheses
• Hydrogenation and dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons
• Polymerisation reactions