![]() ![]() The lowest purity is usually 10K and the highest is 24K gold. The purity of the gold used in gold plating ranges just like solid gold. Yes, gold plating is real gold but because of how little gold is used, such jewelry doesn’t hold the value of gold. As these layers are extremely thin, no loss of detail is incurred on the substrate material. Alternately, the coating can be tailored to fit the desired finish, such as gloss or matte. Multiple coatings of the various types can be applied providing graduated grades of different colors. What is also rather amazing is that slight alterations to the process can produce different results. Several coats can be applied as necessary to achieve the desired finish. This also aids in securing a strong bond between coating and substrate. An opposing electrical charge is introduced into the substrate material to help attract the ionized gas. This vapor is then directed to the substrate material. Introducing an electrical arc current then vaporizes the coating and bonding material. This will assist the surface in achieving a strong bond when applied. A bonding agent, such as titanium nitride, is applied to the surface of the material. Now that the substrate is prepared, the coating process can begin. This strips away these impurities instead of bonding to the surface. This is achieved by subjecting the substrate to ions of another material, such as argon gas. The cleaning process is typically known as sputtering. This aids the process, by making the next steps easier to perform. The chamber is introduced to a low vacuum. ![]() The cleaning is done in a closed environment where the plating will also be applied. ![]() Foreign materials must be removed at this stage to prevent any spoiling of the finish. To begin, the material that will be plated, otherwise known as the substrate, must be cleaned. ![]() However, this is the same as stating ion plating Just know that all of these terms refer to ion plating. Occasionally, this process may be referred to as IP plating. Besides that name, the process is called ion-assisted deposition (IAD) or ion vapor deposition (IVD). The ion plating process may also be known as physical vapor deposition (PVD), a technical term that applies to several methods.
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