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Seeking processes to put metal films onto glass

 

Dear Finishing Experts and New Friends,

Hello. I am a small Musical Hardware Manufacturer and am very familiar with decorative metal finishes.

I am doing consulting research for an amazing artist who wants to incorporate Chrome, Gold, Copper, Aluminum and other metals into cast GLASS art. The objective is to find means of adding films of Metals, by electroplating, particle deposition or any other process, onto Glass. The glass objects range in size from small to moderate, which can be handled by one person.

 

I seek processes which would be usable on whole glass surfaces, and also selectively on portions of a glass surface. I seek processes which may allow the metal film to endure high temperatures ( kiln firing ) and manipulation ( i.e.: cutting / casting into more glass ).

I would greatly appreciate any referrals, help or suggestions you may have.

With thanks and kind regards,

Glen Douglas McArthur Quan
- San Francisco, California, USA

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Glass is regularly coated by PVD methods, usually for architectural applications. For your application, where adhesion will be important, I would suggest an ion beam assisted deposition. A high energy ion beam would be nice, but a low energy beam would work. It's relatively easy to mask areas that you don't want to coat -- aluminum foil works nicely. The metal can be arc evaporated, or you can sputter it. Sputtering produces a smoother finish. You should be able to find someone in the San Jose area that can do the work for you. The method is used extensively for electronic applications.

Jim Treglio - scwineryreview.com
PVD Consultant & Wine Lover
San Diego, California
 

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I think you should consider coating with metal after kiln firing. I don't know of any metals that can withstand kiln (cone) temperatures, especially in air. As you are aware, there are several suboxide glazes that have a metallic "sheen" to them after firing; maybe that's more along the lines of something to look at. As for plating, it is not as easy as you might think, especially on non-conductive surfaces. I suspect there are a few plating jobshops in your area to ask though. Plating would be a whole lot cheaper than PVD or CVD, especially with large pieces of work & with vapor deposited metals you will likely need an interlayer of titanium or aluminum for adhesion (which might interfere with your color scheme).

Dale Woika
- Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, US