Metalizing is the collective term that refers to processes through which metals are applied on other surfaces. The first instance of the process happened in 1835 and was used to make mirrors. The person credited for the discovery is Justus Von Liebig. Metalizing can be performed for functional, decorative, or protective purposes. Los Angeles metalizing businesses can achieve all the three purposes.

Today, versions of metalizing have been multiplied a lot. The many versions can be attributed to the hard work of manufacturers and the technological advancements in the current era. Almost any type of material can be metalized with the same degree or efficiency. Glass, wood, plastics, and metals are major examples. However, the various materials differ in characteristics making the choice of version of the process used to differ.

The results achieved from the process depend on the nature of substrates and the variant of metallization in use. Also, of some importance is the metal used. For a long time aluminum has been used widely because of the many suitable properties it presents over many other metals. It takes much less energy to evaporate because of its low boiling point. It is also great at improving the exterior appearance of other substances on which it is deposited.

A vacuum chamber is the device inside which the process of metallization is performed. The interior temperatures of the vacuum chamber are kept above the boiling point of the metal used in the process. The metal evaporates into fumes when the boiling point is reached. Upon cooling, the fumes settle on the object being metalized. The object is usually given the name substrate. The resultant film is deposited thinly and uniformly.

The substrate may be maintained at low or high temperatures depending on which version of this process is being done. In some cases, the substrate may have to be heated to improve the bond it forms with the metal. Hot substrates achieve stronger and longer lasting bonds that provide protection of the substrate for a longer period.

Metalizing is one application that is used across all industries ranging from electronics to military and house equipment. In the manufacture of electronics, devices need to be protected from external interference. By depositing a suitable layer to cover the device, interference is reduced or eliminated. Interference is caused by several reasons such as electrical noise, electromagnetic interference, and radio frequency interference from external sources. Antennas and computers are among devices in need of protection.

Coatings metalized on a surface can serve to protect it too. If corrosion is likely to occur on a device because of the environments it is used in, depositing a layer of metal helps to stop the corrosion. Metallization is used to deposit a film of metal on the surface. Example of such an application is in the water, where the bottoms of ships are metalized to avoid corrosion by water.

Another function that metallization does is to enhance the aesthetic value of objects. Coating beautiful metals like gold on surfaces like plastic that would otherwise not be so beautiful makes them look like gold. The same thing goes for aluminum. Finally, durability of metalized surfaces is enhanced greatly.