The authoritative public forum
  for Metal Finishing since 1989
-----

Vacuum metallising on car headlights

I am doing a a project on the auto sector and wish to know the procedure for vacuum metallising on car headlights .What raw materials are used in this process during metallising and after that? Is there any use of any kind of paint in this whole procedure and if yes then what type of paint is used in these plastic head lights?
please advise.

R K Khosla
student - New Delhi, India
2005

A pot of aluminum chips is electrically heated inside a vacuum chamber where the parts to be metallized are placed. Due to the vacuum, the aluminum evaporates very easily and its vapors propagate, adhere and condensate back to form a metallic deposit all over every surface inside the chamber (including its walls, fixtures, door, etc.). In order to make the deposit look shiny, the surface has to be coated with a bright lacquer or given an ultramirror finish.

Guillermo Marrufo
Monterrey, NL, Mexico
2005