The process of metallization
-The use of metalized materials
The widespread usage of vacuum metallization process is recent. It appeared in Europe in 1930-40 and became a significant industrial activity only to the mid-sixties. Since then there has been considerable advancement in the technology of this process, which consists of applying a very thin metal layer on the "base", which is in our interests, is primarily a plastic film, paper or light cardboard. The most frequent use for paper and light cardboard:
-packaging;
-labels;
-inner line paper for packs of cigarettes;
-cards;
-decoration;
-specific applications (e.g. heat-sensitive paper).
The most common use of plastic films:
-flexible packaging;
-labels;
-decoration;
-collectors for microwave films;
-brocade (or thread for the metallic fabric).
Currently, vacuum metallization has become one of the fundamental processes in many industries, including packaging and printing industry.
Metallized films are used where previously used materials, Laminated aluminum foil. As for the metallized paper - its consumption has increased for the manufacture of labels.
On the basis of economic considerations, as well as being functional, aesthetic quality and performance markedly increased the need for metallized materials.
-Process of metallization
Metallization of paper and metallization of films have much in common: in particular, application of metal producing on the same equipment.
There are also differences: if the film, as a rule, you can metalize immediately, then the paper must be prepared for metallization. There are also differences in the process after application of metal: the printed image can be inflicted on metallic film by only kinds of printing, originally designed for nonabsorbent surfaces. Paper may also sealed by other printing methods.
To allow for further high-quality printing metallized paper must have certain properties.
Typically, metallic layer, after special training, applied to the surface of paper traditionally used in printing grades and continue to be subjected to special treatment, allowing printing on metallized paper received not only special types of printing (flexographic, gravure), optimized for printing on nonabsorbent surfaces but also offset way of printing, in which the application of the printed image on the nonabsorbent surface is difficult.
Thus, the process of metallization of paper consists of preparation of paper - by coating of a special layer of lacquer on surface - primer metallization - by spraying a thin layer of aluminum in a vacuum, and the ultimate finish - by applying a different lacquer, allowing then to print received the contributions on the offset way. To the final finishing of metallized paper belongs also to give it, if necessary, a certain surface relief.
The process of metallization of the film is metallization by sputtering a thin layer of aluminum in a vacuum and, in some cases, the final finish - by applying a protective varnish, which prevents the oxidation of aluminum layer.