KR980009509A - How to apply glossy coating on parts such as vehicle wheels and coating parts - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a part gloss coating, preferably for vehicles, in particular for vehicle wheels and for coating parts of this type.

Vehicle wheels have been coated by various colorings to the desired color until now. The metallic tint effect is achieved by mica coloring. It is an object of the present invention to provide a variety of metallic luster colors to the object, in particular to the vehicle wheel.

The first step forms a corrosion resistant gloss initial coating layer as is known, and in the second step a high gloss layer applied by magnetron atomization is formed thereon. In the third step, a transparent and wear resistant top surface coating layer is then applied according to known methods. The parts are mechanically pre-treated and provided with a protective or surface layer.

At this stage, the vehicle parts, in particular the vehicle wheels, are produced in a wide variety of colors with a layer of shiny metal.

Description

How to apply gloss coating on parts such as vehicle wheels and coating parts

The present invention relates to a part gloss coating, preferably for vehicles, in particular for parts coating of vehicles wheels to rims. The method is preferably used for the coating of light metal wheels to produce metallic luster on such parts. The method is likewise applicable to interior and exterior parts of vehicles. In addition, these methods can be used for a variety of purposes, including daily necessities, in particular to achieve improved visual effects, improved special use, and corrosion protection. This includes, for example, the housing of instruments and tools.

The subject matter of the invention relates to a vehicle part, preferably a vehicle wheel, manufactured according to the method.

As is known, there is provided a system of anticorrosive colored layers in articles of this kind, in particular in vehicle wheels (G 81 03 758 U1). On the base layer of the cathodic decomposition electrodeposition coating, a surface coloring coating layer condensed by an electron beam is formed. This layer is likewise covered with another layer which is cured by an electron beam. This method has the disadvantage that only a metallic shiny color can be produced in a limited way.

A method for producing a paint layer of light metal wheels is already known (European patent application EP 0 525 867 A1). For this purpose two layers are applied as coating layers, both of which are colored layers. The first layer is the primary colored coating and the second layer comprises the miter pigment as a transparent colored coating. This method has the disadvantage of not forming pure metallic luster, but merely mimicking by pigment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is well known to coat layers with various color and gloss effects on objects by vacuum layer, in particular magnetron atomization.

In a vacuum chamber, the object to be coated is placed against one or more targets in which the layer to which it can be applied consists of a layer of material or a single component. Gas release is initiated so that a plasma is formed between the target and the object and the target particles are atomized. Metals, alloys or metal mixtures are used as target materials. However, the metal mixture is applied via a magnetron atomization reaction while the metal is atomized and further reaction gas is introduced into the vacuum chamber, for example O ₂ , N ₂ . By appropriately selecting the material and possibly in connection with the process gas, the layer can be produced in a variety of colors. Robust wear resistant layers plated by PVD and CVD processes are coated with a polished metallic layer to protect against stress and corrosion from mechanical wear. A disadvantage of the protected metallic metallic layer is the fact that it is ineffective, for example, to withstand the high mechanical corrosion stresses of a vehicle wheel. Moreover, the manufacturing cost of a protective layer is too high.

The object of the present invention is to provide a method of applying a glossy coating on a component, preferably a vehicle component, in particular a vehicle wheel, to produce a variety of different and different metallic colors on its own surface or area. to be. The vehicle wheel is preferably coated with a metal, in particular a light alloy, in which case it first coats the visible surface. Glossy coatings must also prevent corrosion and overcome mechanical stresses, for example on vehicle wheels, to suppress wear and chipping. The method and parts thereof can be economically manufactured and coated.

The problem according to the invention is solved by the features of claims 1, 2 or 3 and 11. Other advantages are described in the dependent claims of claims 4 to 10 and 12 to 21.

According to the invention, the part gloss coating, in particular the part gloss coating of the vehicle wheel, preferably the visible area, is produced by a combination of multiple layers. In one embodiment, in the first step, the anticorrosion polished base coating layer consists of, for example, a powdered baking finish or sputtered colored coating in an optimal process. Next, in the second step, a high gloss layer having a thickness of 10 nm to 5 μm, preferably 100 nm to 500 nm, is applied on the part to be coated by magnetron atomization in a vacuum chamber. The high gloss layer is made of a metal, alloy, metal mixture according to the color to be produced. The magnetron atomization is appropriately changed according to the color that may be formed in the high gloss layer and the coating material used, ie the target material. The use of active atomization of a target consisting of a coating material is practical, such as allowing the use of reactive gases or reaction gas mixtures, such as O ₂ , N ₂ , low molecular hydrocarbons, or inert atomization, direct current atomization or pulsed magnetron atomization. Modifiable changes are possible and electrical energy is supplied in pulsed form. Furthermore, one or more targets may be used, and in the case of the use of multiple targets, it is preferable to selectively switch the anode and the cathode.

In particular, reaction pulse magnetron sputters are advantageous in that case, as is known in the preparation of high gloss layers consisting of mixtures of composite components, for example mixtures of titanium aluminum nitride, so that a simple target of titanium and aluminum metal is active nitrogen. It is put into the atmosphere. The pulsed magnetron sputters on the one hand allow a stable and safe reproducible process procedure, while other coating methods are impossible due to the excessive electrical sparking, so-called arcing, which is frequently generated. On the other hand, through purely electrical means, i.e. by adjusting the pulse length for the duration of the resting period, the synthesis of the layers and the resulting color of the gloss layer are adjusted within a wide range and constant for the targets of two different metals. Is maintained.

In a later step, a transparent, wear resistant top surface coating layer is applied to the high gloss layer by known methods. The top coating layer, which is based on acrylate or polyurethane or epoxy resin or consists of an organic inorganic mixture, preferably Ormocer, has a thickness of 0.5 μm to 100 μm. It has been found that the application of the colored layers in a vacuum between the two steps and then the application of the layers can be combined with each other to provide a layer system that meets the stringent requirements for visual appearance and corrosion protection.

An advantage of embodiments of the gloss coating is that the surface of the part, in particular the area to be coated, is mechanically polished and then the chromate layer is applied prior to forming the corrosion resistant base coating layer.

In another method, another advantage is that a powdered coating layer is formed on the chromate layer after the chromate layer and before the base coating layer of corrosion protection.

The advantage of this method is that the coated surface layer is formed by the CVD process on the high gloss layer as the last layer on the layer system.

With regard to color and gloss, the magnetron atomization layer, which cannot be manufactured by conventional coating treatment methods, is made of a layer having visual decorative features. The colors available in a wide range of choices are metallic luster. That is, no metallization can be imitated through proper coloring. The color palette ranges from dark silver and pale silver to gold, reddish brown to purple. The system proves particularly advantageous to include titanium aluminum nitrogen. In such a system, many colors can be produced. However, in other systems, zirconium aluminum nitrogen and titanium zirconium nitrogen, for example, can be added for the production of another color. Other colors may be made of copper or brass.

In addition, the use of sprays for high gloss layers is a simple and economical process by magnetron atomization. Coating of three-dimensional and complex shaped parts is well achieved in all respects and it cannot be achieved with other vacuum coating methods such as electron beam vapor, arc vapor, ship steam or ion plating.

Another advantage is that the relatively sensitive high gloss layer can be protected by the method according to the invention against large disturbances and environmental influences, for example attack by alkaline liquids and acids. The elasticity of the relatively thick base coating layer and the top surface coating layer substantially contributes to mitigating high mechanical stresses such as chipping and abrasion in such cases. Furthermore, the corrosion protection of the part to be coated can be achieved with a base coating layer and the surface roughness can be made uniform, such as hardened or cast light metal wheels. By this method, the next coating is made of a high gloss layer, and the adhesion of the layer is improved. It is possible to precisely adjust the gloss of the gloss coating by adding an additive to become a transparent top surface, so that a plurality of gloss grades meet aesthetic and fashionable requirements.

Another advantageous concept of the present invention is the fact that the surface is mechanically polished prior to forming the foundation coating layer. In addition, the adhesion of the high gloss layer is improved when it is carried out through the formation of heating and / or etching of inert gas plasma or reactive gas plasma or formation of an adhesion mediation layer before formation of such layer. For light metal wheels it is advantageous to coat only the visible surface rather than the entire surface. This reduces the coating cost.

The method for gloss coating can be applied for the coating of parts made of steel, light metals such as magnesium, titanium, aluminum and their alloys and plastics. Vehicle parts made from such materials are, for example, mirror cases, fan grates, radiator grilles, door latches, actuation buttons, instrument panel parts and the like. Interior and exterior parts of all vehicles can be provided with a glossy coating. Such parts can be cast parts, spray molded parts or plastic parts to sheet metal parts. Particular conditions in the coating of plastic parts are to consider the process parameters in the coating, in particular in the use of sprays of high gloss layers and in the case of initial glow cleaning.

Hereinafter, another embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. Vehicle wheels of light alloys aluminum, magnesium and titanium, especially the wheel spider, have a glossy purple color. In addition, the vehicle wheel is mechanically polished and then treated with a powdered baking coating which has been optimized as known in the first step.

Finally, in the second method, the vehicle wheel is placed in the vacuum chamber such that the outside of the vehicle wheel is positioned opposite two targets of the magnetron atomization source disposed in the vacuum chamber. One target is made of aluminum and the other is made of titanium. After the vacuum chamber is emptied, argon can enter the vacuum chamber and thus emit light in the inert atmosphere gas. The high gloss layer is formed by using pulse magnetron atomization as is known. In that case, the aluminum target and the titanium target are alternately operated with the positive and negative poles at a frequency of 10 KHz. The total power supplied to the target is 15 kW. In addition, 80 sccm nitrogen is allowed to enter the vacuum chamber as the reaction gas and the working pressure is adjusted to 2 x 10 ^-3 mbar. The vehicle wheel is rotated around the coating symmetry axis during coating to maintain an even coating. The 200 nm thick, high gloss layer, which is purple, is visible on the vehicle wheel for three minutes of coating time. In the third step, an upper surface coating layer based on polyurethane finally having a thickness of 30 μm forms a high gloss layer by a known method.

If the parts of the vehicle wheel of the above example are made of magnesium, the mechanical gloss performed in advance in the formation of the layer system is achieved by so-called smooth grinding. However, this step can be advantageous for removing surface impurities that may be unexpectedly affected by the quality of the coating for components made of other materials.

The method is preferably designed so that after the mechanical gloss is applied the chromium layer is applied as the first layer and thereon becomes a powdered coating layer.

The chromium layer is preferably formed chemically and in particular has the purpose of preventing corrosion and the base coating layer acts as a secondary corrosion protection layer is reduced. The powder coating layer forms a plastic resistor to external influences such as chipping on the vehicle wheel.

According to the present invention a part gloss coating, preferably for a vehicle, in particular a vehicle wheel and this type of part coating can be effected effectively through the above-described method and the metallic tint effect is achieved by the addition of the miter coloring, It may be provided in the desired object, in particular in the vehicle wheel, in various metallic luster colors.

At this stage the vehicle parts, in particular the vehicle wheel, can be produced in a wide variety of colors with a layer of shiny metal.

Claims (21)

In a gloss coating method for forming a layer system on a vehicle part, in particular a vehicle wheel, forming a corrosion resistant and polished base coating layer and spraying a high gloss layer of a metal, alloy or mixture with a magnetron in a vacuum And forming a transparent wear resistant surface colored layer. A glossy coating method for forming a layer system on a vehicle part, in particular a vehicle wheel, the method comprising: mechanically polishing a surface, forming a chromium layer, forming a corrosion resistant, glossy base coating layer, Spraying a high gloss layer of a mixture, alloy, or metal by a magnetron in a vacuum, and forming a transparent wear resistant surface layer due to the coating. A glossy coating method for forming a layer system on a component, preferably a vehicle, in particular a vehicle wheel, the method comprising the steps of mechanically polishing the surface, forming a chromium layer and forming a powdered coating layer, and preventing corrosion Forming a basic coating layer of the metal, spraying a high gloss layer of a mixture, alloy, or metal with magnetron in a vacuum, and forming a transparent wear resistant surface layer due to the coating. Way. 4. The method of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the surface layer is formed into a high gloss layer by a CDV process. The process according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein one pretreatment before spraying the high gloss layer is carried out in a vacuum, preferably in heating and / or etching in an inert gas plasma or reactive gas plasma. Glossy coating method, characterized in that carried out by. 5. The method of claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein one pretreatment prior to spraying the high gloss layer is carried out through an adhesion mediation layer in vacuum. The glossy coating method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the high gloss layer is sprayed in an inert gas atmosphere or a reactive gas atmosphere by direct current atomization or pulse magnetron atomization. 8. Glossy coating method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a gas or mixed gas, preferably O ₂ , N ₂ or low molecular hydrocarbons, is used as the reaction gas. 9. The method of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the part to be coated is moved relative to the magnetron target upon spraying a high gloss layer. The method of claim 1, wherein the gloss of the part to be coated is adjusted by the addition of colorants to the transparent surface layer. In coating parts consisting of metals or alloys, in particular light alloys, and in which the layer system is configured for at least the visible surface of the part according to claims 1, 2 or 3, the layer system is at least corrosion resistant and polished. A coating component comprising a coating layer and a high gloss layer of a metal, alloy, or mixture and a surface layer which is transparent and wear-resistant due to the coating. The coating component according to claim 11, wherein an adhesion intermediate layer is formed below the high gloss layer. The coating component according to claim 11 or 12, wherein a chromium layer is formed below the base coating layer. The coating component according to claim 11, wherein a powder coating layer is formed between the chromium layer and the base coating layer. 15. A coating component according to claim 11, wherein the foundation coating layer is a powdered baking coating of an optimum process having a thickness of 100 µm to 500 µm, preferably 30 µm to 300 µm. The coating component according to claim 11, wherein the high gloss layer has a thickness of 10 nm to 5 μm, preferably 100 nm to 500 nm. The coating component according to claim 11, wherein the high gloss layer is a mixture composed of titanium aluminum nitrogen. The coating component according to claim 11, which is a mixture composed of the high gloss layer zirconium aluminum nitrogen. The coating component according to claim 11, wherein the high gloss layer is a mixture composed of titanium zirconium nitrogen. 20. The coating component according to claim 11, wherein the surface layer is an organic or inorganic mixture having a thickness of 0.5 μm to 20 μm, preferably an ormoser having a thickness of 2 μm to 5 μm. 21. A coating component according to claim 11, wherein the surface layer has an organic layer having a thickness of 1 μm to 100 μm, preferably 20 μm to 30 μm, on the base of acrylate or polyurethane or epoxy resin. ※ Note: The disclosure is based on the initial application.