Vacuum coating technology, with its core advantages of "improving material surface performance, endowing materials with new functions, and optimizing product appearance and texture," has penetrated multiple core fields such as optics, electronics, automotive, machinery tools, and new energy, becoming an indispensable surface treatment method in modern manufacturing. The diverse needs of different fields drive the continuous segmentation of coating technologies and processes, forming a virtuous cycle of "technology adapting to scenarios, and scenarios driving innovation," helping downstream industries achieve high-end upgrades.
I. Optics Industry: Core Empowerment, Enhancing Optical Performance and Stability
The optics field is a traditional core application scenario for vacuum coating technology. The core needs are optimizing light transmission, controlling reflection and refraction, and improving the imaging quality and lifespan of optical devices. It is mainly applied in two major sectors: lens manufacturing and optical component processing. On the lenses of optical instruments such as cameras, camcorders, and telescopes, by depositing multi-layered functional films such as anti-reflective coatings, anti-reflective coatings, and light filters, the lens transmittance, contrast, and color reproduction can be significantly improved, light reflection and glare reduced, and problems such as blurred optical imaging and stray light interference can be solved.
For core components such as optical lenses, prisms, and mirrors, vacuum coating can prepare specialized coatings such as high-reflectivity films and semi-transparent/semi-reflective films to meet the design requirements of different optical systems and achieve precise control and transmission of light. With the rise of emerging optical fields such as AR/VR and laser devices, the requirements for coating precision and film stability are further increasing, driving the application of advanced technologies such as ion beam assisted evaporation and molecular beam epitaxy in this field.
II. Electronics and Information Industry: Supporting Precision Manufacturing and Adapting to Miniaturization and High-Performance Trends
The rapid development of the electronics and information industry has placed stringent demands on the precision, stability, and functionality of components. Vacuum coating has become a core supporting process, widely used in sub-sectors such as flat panel displays, hard drive manufacturing, and semiconductors. In the flat panel display field, the manufacturing of liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and organic light-emitting diode displays (OLEDs) is inseparable from vacuum coating. By depositing indium tin oxide (ITO) transparent conductive films as electrodes on glass substrates, and preparing organic light-emitting layers and blocking layers, display functions can be achieved, while simultaneously improving the brightness, contrast, and lifespan of the display.
In hard drive manufacturing, magnetic films need to be deposited on the surface of the hard drive platter for data storage, and protective films need to be deposited to prevent scratches and oxidation of the platter, ensuring the reliability and storage capacity of the hard drive. In the semiconductor field, high-end technologies such as atomic layer deposition and radio frequency magnetron sputtering can prepare high-precision, high-purity films for chip metallization, insulating layer preparation, etc., supporting the iteration of chips towards miniaturization and high performance, and are one of the core processes of advanced semiconductor packaging [4].
III. Decoration Industry: Optimizing Appearance and Texture, and Taking Durability into Consideration
The application of vacuum coating in the decoration field focuses on "improving appearance and texture and extending service life", replacing traditional electroplating processes, avoiding pollution problems, and is widely used in jewelry, home decoration, car decoration and other scenarios. In the jewelry field, vacuum coating can deposit gold, silver, platinum and other precious metal films on the surface of the substrate, or prepare rose gold, gunmetal and other special alloy films, which not only improves the beauty and added value of the jewelry, but also enhances the surface wear resistance and corrosion resistance, and reduces the amount of precious metals used and the production cost. In the home decoration industry, vacuum coating can give lighting fixtures, furniture accessories, and bathroom hardware a metallic sheen, enhancing their perceived quality while providing corrosion and oxidation resistance, thus extending their lifespan. In the automotive decoration industry, vacuum coating can achieve various aesthetic effects, such as chrome plating and metallic finishes, on wheels, body trim, and interior components, creating a luxurious interior atmosphere. It also improves the wear resistance and weather resistance of parts, making them suitable for the complex environments of long-term automotive use.
IV. Tool and Machinery Industry: Enhancing Surface Properties and Improving Production Efficiency
The tool and machinery industry has extremely high requirements for the hardness, wear resistance, and heat resistance of parts. Vacuum coating can significantly improve part performance by creating hard coatings, reducing wear and production costs. It is mainly used for the surface treatment of cutting tools, molds, and precision mechanical parts. In the cutting tool industry, depositing hard films such as titanium nitride (TiN) and titanium aluminum nitride (TiAlN) can improve the hardness, wear resistance, and heat resistance of cutting tools, reduce cutting forces and friction coefficients, extend tool life, and improve production efficiency and processing quality in metal cutting, woodworking, and plastics processing.
For various molds such as injection molds, die-casting molds, and stamping molds, vacuum coating can form a protective film, improving the mold's release performance, corrosion resistance, and thermal fatigue resistance, reducing mold wear and sticking, extending mold life, and lowering mold maintenance and replacement costs. Furthermore, for precision mechanical parts such as bearings, gears, and shafts, vacuum coating can prepare wear-resistant and corrosion-resistant films, improving surface properties, adapting to complex working conditions, and ensuring stable operation of machinery.
V. New Energy Industry: Emerging Growth Pole, Adapting to Green Development Needs
With the advancement of "dual-carbon" goals, the new energy industry has become a new core application scenario for vacuum coating technology, mainly focusing on photovoltaics, solid-state lithium batteries, and other fields, experiencing explosive growth in demand. In the photovoltaic field, vacuum coating can be used to prepare Low-E glass films and weather-resistant fluorocarbon films for photovoltaic backsheets, thereby improving the light transmittance and weather resistance of photovoltaic panels, enhancing photoelectric conversion efficiency, and helping the photovoltaic industry reduce costs and increase efficiency. In the field of solid-state lithium batteries, vacuum coating can be used to prepare electrode and electrolyte films, improve the energy density and cycle life of batteries, and support the industrialization of solid-state lithium batteries. It is estimated that by 2030, the demand for vacuum coating equipment in the new energy field will jump from the current 15% to more than 30%, becoming the core driving force for industry growth [4].
Post time: 2026-02-14 15:07:56