Powder Coating System : PCS
Chemical-free technique for coating of powders and pellets with inorganic thin films and nanoparticles. PVD coatings provide repeatable coverage with excellent control over mass loading.
The NL-powder coating system consists of a compact vacuum chamber fitted with a vibratory bowl. Powders and pellets are loaded into the bowl to be coated with thin film or nanoparticles. Three different bowl capacities up to 2L are available. PVD is a chemical-free technique which uses high-purity metals and gases to produce high purity inorganic coatings with no chemical waste. The line-of-sight technique offers unform coverage. In situ measurement using a quartz crystal microbalance enables precise control over the mass loading and repeatable results with every run. The power coating system is provided with an integrated PC and SPECTRUM control software for automated recipe control and data logging.
Key Features
- Uniform and repeatable coatings
- Precise control over mass loading
- Inorganic thin film and nanoparticle coatings
- Chemical free coating with minimal residue
- In-situ plasma cleaning
- Up to 2 Litres capacity
- Typical materials, Pt, Ir2O3, CuO, Ru, Ni, NiO and many more
System Configuration
| Options | PCS100 | PCS250 | PCS400 |
| Size of Deposition Chamber | 150 x 150 x 300mm | 300 x 300 x 400mm | 450 x450 x 450mm |
| Bowl Diameter | Φ100mm | Φ250mm | Φ400mm |
| Max Bowl Weight | 0.34kg | 1.5kg | 3.8kg |
| Orientation | Sputter down | ||
| Capacity | 0.15 litre | 0.5 litres | 2 litres |
| Pumping | Oil pump or turbo pump backed by oil pump. Including soft start pumping and slow venting. | ||
| Control Software | Recipe driven processes, power supply control and data logging. Optional automated pumping sequencing (with pneumatic valves) | ||
| In-situ Monitoring | Quartz Crystal Microbalance for process monitoring and end point detection | ||
| Source Port | 2 deposition sources | Up to 4 deposition sources | Up to 5 deposition sources |
| Source Type | Nanoparticle source, Magnetron sputter sources, Ion source, RF Atom source | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
The NL-PCS is a compact vacuum chamber fitted with a vibratory bowl, designed to apply chemical-free thin film and nanoparticle coatings to fluidised powders and pellets. It uses high-purity metals and gases in a line-of-sight PVD process to produce high-purity inorganic coatings with no chemical waste and minimal residue.
The PCS is available in three configurations. The PCS100 has a 100 mm diameter bowl with 0.15 litre capacity and a maximum bowl weight of 0.34 kg. The PCS250 has a 250 mm diameter bowl with 0.5 litre capacity and a maximum bowl weight of 1.5 kg. The PCS400 has a 400 mm diameter bowl with 2 litre capacity and a maximum bowl weight of 3.8 kg.
The system uses a vibratory bowl to tumble powders and pellets through the coating zone for uniform, line-of-sight coverage, along with in-situ plasma cleaning. A quartz crystal microbalance provides real-time process monitoring and end-point detection, giving precise control over mass loading and repeatable results run to run.
Typical powders and pellets (the substrates) include carbon pellets up to millimetres in dimensions, nano-powders (including carbon black), zeolites and many other forms of ceramic powders from nm to mms in size.
Typical coating materials include platinum, iridium oxide, copper oxide, ruthenium, nickel, and nickel oxide, among others. The system supports both thin film and nanoparticle coatings using compatible source types.
The PCS supports a nanoparticle source, magnetron sputter sources, an ion source, and an RF atom source. Source ports scale with system size: 2 ports on the PCS100, up to 4 on the PCS250, and up to 5 on the PCS400.
The PCS is operated using Nikalyte’s Spectrum software for recipe-driven process control, power supply control, and data logging, with an optional automated pumping sequence using pneumatic valves.
The PCS is used across catalysis, pharmaceutical, automotive, energy storage, and biocompatible device research for applying thin film and nanoparticle coatings to powders and pellets for example, coating catalyst support powders with platinum or ruthenium nanoparticles, applying protective oxide layers to battery electrode powders, or coating pelletized biomaterials to improve surface bioactivity. As a batch, lab-scale system with capacities up to 2 litres, it is best suited to R&D, formulation development, and small-batch specialty coating runs rather than bulk industrial production volumes.