Magnetron sputtering coating equipment for mobile phone hardware parts

The magnetron sputtering coating equipment for mobile phone hardware parts is a dedicated device designed for small hardware parts such as mobile phone frames, keys, and camera decorative rings. Its core structure is divided into five major modules: vacuum system, sputtering system, workpiece transmission system, control system, and auxiliary system.

Magnetron sputtering coating for mobile phone hardware is based on the principle of physical vapor deposition (PVD). It uses a magnetic field to enhance the sputtering effect and completes the film deposition in a high vacuum environment. The specific process is as follows:

1. Workpiece pretreatment and clamping: After cleaning the mobile phone hardware parts (such as stainless steel frames and aluminum alloy keys) (ultrasonic cleaning + drying), they are hung on the planetary fixture, sent into the vacuum chamber and sealed.
2. Vacuum extraction: Start the vacuum pump set. First, use a mechanical pump to evacuate the cavity to a low vacuum (about 10 Pa), and then use a molecular pump to evacuate it to a high vacuum (10⁻³ to 10⁻⁵ Pa). Remove the air and impurities inside the cavity to prevent the membrane layer from being oxidized or contaminated.
3. Ion cleaning (optional): Introduce a small amount of argon gas, turn on the auxiliary ion source, and the argon gas is ionized into argon ions, which bombshell the surface of the hardware parts to remove residual oil stains, oxide layers and tiny burrs, activate the surface, and provide a good base for film adhesion.
4. Magnetron sputtering deposition
   • A set proportion of argon gas (or argon gas + reactive gas) is introduced into the cavity, and the gas pressure is precisely controlled by a flowmeter.
   • When a high-voltage power supply is applied to the magnetron target, glow discharge occurs on the surface of the target material, and argon gas is ionized into argon ions and electrons.
   • Under the binding effect of the magnetic field, electrons move in a spiral motion and collide with more argon molecules, generating a large number of argon ions and forming high-density plasma. Under the action of an electric field, argon ions bombshell the surface of the target material at high speed. Through momentum transfer, the atoms/molecules of the target material are sputtered out.
   • The target material atoms/molecules sputtered out (or compound particles formed by reacting with the reaction gas) move in the cavity in gaseous form and are uniformly deposited on the surface of the high-speed rotating mobile phone hardware parts, forming a dense film.
5. Post-treatment: After the coating is completed, turn off the power supply and the air inlet valve. Fill the cavity with inert gas through the air release valve. Once the cavity pressure returns to normal, remove the coated hardware parts.

• The middle frame of the mobile phone: The stainless steel and aluminum alloy middle frames are coated with hard decorative films such as TiN and CrN, which enhance the wear resistance and corrosion resistance of the middle frame, and at the same time give it a metallic texture appearance (such as gold, rose gold, gun gray).
• Camera decorative rings: High-reflective films (such as Ag films) or wear-resistant protective films are coated on the surface of aluminum alloy or stainless steel decorative rings to enhance the decorative effect and prevent the lens rings from being scratched.
• Mobile phone buttons: Anti-fingerprint film and hard film are coated on the power button and volume button to enhance the touch feel and service life of the buttons, and prevent wear and color fading caused by long-term pressing.
• Other hardware components: such as SIM card slots, metal decorative sheets, etc., achieve appearance beautification and performance enhancement through coating, meeting the design and quality requirements of the entire mobile phone.