Editing Metallizing (section)

[[Image:1886VE10-HD.jpg|300px|thumb|Radiation hardened [[Die (integrated circuit)|die]] of the 1886VE10 [[microcontroller]] prior to metalization [[Etching (microfabrication)|etching]]]]
[[Image:1886VE10-Si-HD.jpg|thumb|Radiation hardened [[Die (integrated circuit)|die]] of the 1886VE10 [[microcontroller]] after a metalization [[Etching (microfabrication)|etching]] process has been used]]
[[File:Museo de la Revolucion-Batista golden phone.jpg|thumb|Gold-plated phone belonging to the dictator [[Fulgencio Batista|Batista]] at the [[Museum of the Revolution (Cuba)|Revolution Museum]] in Havana]]

'''Metallizing''' is the general name for the technique of coating [[metal]] on the surface of objects. Metallic coatings may be decorative, protective or functional.

Techniques for metallization started as early as [[mirror]] making. In 1835, [[Justus von Liebig]] discovered the process of [[silvering|coating a glass surface with metallic silver]], making the glass mirror one of the earliest items being metallized. Plating other non-metallic objects grew rapidly with introduction of [[Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene|ABS]] plastic. Because a non-metallic object tends to be a poor electrical [[Conductor (material)|conductor]], the object's surface must be made conductive before plating can be performed. The plastic part is first etched chemically by a suitable process, such as dipping in a hot [[chromic acid]]-[[sulfuric acid]] mixture. The etched surface is sensitised and activated by first dipping in [[tin(II) chloride]] solution, then [[palladium chloride]] solution. The processed surface is then coated with [[plating#Electroless plating|electroless]] copper or nickel before further plating. This process gives useful (about 1 to 6&nbsp;[[kilogram-force|kgf]]/cm or 10 to 60&nbsp;[[newton (unit)|N]]/cm or 5 to 35&nbsp;[[pound-force|lbf]]/in) adhesion force, but is much weaker than actual metal-to-metal adhesion strength.

'''[[Vacuum metallizing]]''' involves heating the coating metal to its boiling point in a vacuum chamber, then letting condensation deposit the metal on the substrate's surface. [[Heating element|Resistance heating]], [[electron beam]], or [[Plasma (physics)|plasma]] heating is used to vaporize the coating metal. Vacuum metallizing was used to deposit aluminum on the large glass mirrors of reflecting telescopes, such as with the [[Hale Telescope]].

[[Thermal spray]] processes are often referred to as metallizing. Metals applied in such a manner provide corrosion protection to steel for decades longer than paint alone. Zinc and aluminum are the most commonly used materials for metallizing steel structures.<ref>{{cite journal |journal=Journal of Protective Coatings and Linings |url=http://www.metalize.net/content/metalizing-steel-bridges-field |title=Metalizing Steel Bridges in the Field |last=Lohrey |first=Eric C. |volume=12 |issue=5 |page=39 |publisher=Steel Structures Painting Council}}</ref>

[[Cold spraying|Cold sprayable]] metal technology is a metallizing process that seamlessly applies cold sprayable or putty able metal to almost any surface. The composite metal consists of two (water-based binder) or three different ingredients: metal powder, binder and hardener.

The mixture of the ingredients is cast or sprayed on the substrate at room temperature. The desired effect and the necessary final treatment define the thickness of the layer, which normally varies between 80 and 150&nbsp;[[μm]].