materials-finishes

Gunmetal Grey (PVD) Finishes: Vapor Sputtering for Modern Architecture

Engineering Overview: Technical overview of Gunmetal Grey and Graphite PVD finishes on brass lock cylinders, detailing micro-texture and scratch resistance.

Technical & Engineering Specifications

Substrate Satin Bead-Blasted Solid H59 Brass
Finish Name Gunmetal Grey / Graphite PVD (TiCN)
Film Hardness 2000 - 2400 HV
Color Stability 100% UV & Solvent Resistant
Corrosion Resistance ASTM B117 > 480 hours

Contemporary Industrial Aesthetic

Gunmetal Grey (also known as Graphite, Anthracite, or Titanium Black) has become a signature architectural hardware finish in luxury residential and boutique commercial design.

Deposition Technology

  1. Bead-Blasted Substrate: Extruded H59 brass bodies are micro-blasted with fine glass beads to establish a uniform satin diffuse reflection.
  2. Titanium Carbonitride (TiCN) Sputtering: Vaporized titanium reacted with carbon and nitrogen gases in a high-vacuum chamber forms a rich charcoal-grey ceramic layer.
  3. Durability: Achieves 2000+ HV hardness, resisting keyway wear and chemical discolouration over 100,000 cycles.

Frequently Asked Engineering & Selection Questions

Q1: How is the Gunmetal Grey PVD finish created?

By depositing Titanium Carbonitride (TiCN) in a high-vacuum chamber over a bead-blasted brass substrate, creating a hard, charcoal-grey ceramic layer.