PVD Champagne GoldFinish

The coloration is not a paint or laminate but a physical vapor deposition (PVD) coating generated within a high-vacuum chamber using Titanium Nitride (TiN) reactive gas in a nitrogen atmosphere.

**Process detail: Fadior's PVD chambers operate at 10⁻³ to 10⁻⁵ mbar base pressure with substrate temperatures of 350-500°C during deposition, followed by controlled cooling compatible with our 220°C powder curing cycles.** During this process, titanium targets are vaporized via cathodic arc or magnetron sputtering and react with nitrogen to form a ceramic-like face-centered cubic crystal structure that bonds metallurgically to the steel substrate. The resulting coating thickness ranges strictly between 0.3 and 5 microns, a dimension controlled to ensure optical interference produces the specific warm, muted hue of champagne gold (dominant wavelength: 585-595 nm) without compromising the underlying metal's formability.

Unlike electroplating, which relies on chemical baths and can introduce hydrogen embrittlement per ASTM F519, Fadior's PVD process operates at temperatures compatible with our 220°C bonding cycles, ensuring the coating remains intact during subsequent manufacturing steps. The chemical composition of the TiN layer typically exhibits a stoichiometry near TiN₀.₉, with oxygen content controlled below 2 atomic percent to ensure chemical inertness against household acids (pH 2-12), alkalis, and common solvents (ethanol, acetone, limonene).

This atomic-level deposition ensures that the color is integral to the surface rather than sitting on top as a separate film, eliminating the risk of delamination common in painted finishes.