American PVD Coatings, LLC in Downey, CA coats parts for the automobile aftermarket. The aftermarket is all about flash and style, so many aftermarket products have traditionally been chrome plated. Unfortunately, the plating process is hazardous and labor-intensive, and its wastes are toxic. To meet the market need for the chrome-look without the downsides of plating, American worked with DuPont to bring to market an exciting combination of cutting-edge technologies—ultrasmooth powder coatings and vapor metal deposition.
DuPont’s chrome replacement technology, known as Alesta® CL (chrome-look) is applied to steel or aluminum in three layers:
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A layer of Vacuprime™ epoxy primer is applied, providing superior corrosion resistance, mirror smoothness, and a stable base for vapor-deposited metal.
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A thin metal mirror is deposited. Various technologies may be used, such as thermal evaporation of aluminum and sputtering of chromium, among others.
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An acrylic clearcoat is applied to protect the mirror. DuPont offers two clearcoats: colorless Duraclear 200, and Duraclear 201 with a blue tint for adjusting the color of aluminum to that of chromium.
Not only does Alesta® CL technology provide the look of chrome with superior corrosion resistance, it also saves money by eliminating hand-polishing and sanding of the substrate and replacing the expensive plating process itself. American PVD applies DuPont’s Vacuprime™ and Duraclear™ coatings to a variety of aftermarket parts, including steel and alloy wheels, water pumps, and intake manifolds.
For more information, please contact American PVD Coatings, LLC at 562-861-6348 or DuPont CoatingSolutions at 1-800-247-3886.
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