Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) is a widely utilized process in various industrial applications, serving as a protective and hard coating. However, its presence in fields like fashion has only recently emerged, as electroplating processes had previously dominated this reality. The future looks toward the replacement of the most hazardous and toxic electrochemical processes, especially those involving Cr(VI) and cyanide galvanic baths, which have been restricted by the European Union. Unfortunately, a complete substitution with PVD coatings is not feasible. Currently, the combination of both techniques is employed to achieve new aesthetic features, including a broader color range and diverse textures, rendering de facto PVD of primary interest for the decorative field and the fashion industry. This review aims to outline the guidelines for decorative industries regarding PVD processes and emphasize the recent advancements, quality control procedures, and limitations.

Monolayers and bilayers of lipid mixtures self-assembled on mercury form spontaneously gel-phase (solid ordered, s_o) and liquid-ordered (l_o) microdomains, thanks to the fluidity imparted to these films by the liquid metal support. The differential capacity of the hydrocarbon tail region of monolayers of mixtures of two lipid components of high and low transition temperature T_m , increases during the transition from the liquid disordered (l_d) phase to the coexistence of l_d and s_o phases. Addition of cholesterol to this binary mixture causes a decrease in differential capacity. This behavior is explained by regarding the capacity as a measure of the total perimeter of the s_o microdomains, due to the mismatch between these microdomains and the l_d phase. Cholesterol removes this mismatch by converting the anisotropic s_o microdomains into isotropic l_o microdomains (rafts). This allows differential capacity measurements by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy to follow phase transitions in lipid mixtures. The coexistance of l_d, l_o and s_o phases is confirmed by images of a distal lipid monolayer self-assembled on top of a thiolipid monolayer tethered to a mercury microcap, by using two-photon fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (2P-FLIM).

Since their discovery, ionic liquids (ILs) have attracted a wide interest for their potential use as a medium for many chemical processes, in particular electrochemistry. As electrochemical media they allow the electrodeposition of elements that are impossible to reduce in aqueous media. We have investigated the electrodeposition of aluminium from 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium chloride ((Bmim)Cl)/AlCl₃ (40/60 mol %) as concerns the effect of deposition parameters on the quality of the deposits. Thick (20 μm) aluminium coatings were electrodeposited on brass substrates at different temperatures and mixing conditions (mechanical stirring and sonication). These coatings were investigated by means of scanning electron microscope, roughness measurements, and X-ray diffraction to assess the morphology and the phase composition. Finally, electrochemical corrosion tests were carried out with the intent to correlate the deposition parameters to the anti-corrosion properties.

Chromium deposits rank among the most widespread metal coatings for functional and decorative purposes. However, electrodeposition from Cr(VI) aqueous solution, which is the industrial process currently used to achieve thin chromium deposits, presents several environmental issues, urging the development of alternative solutions. In this study, which aims to compare the functional and aesthetical properties of decorative coatings, 800 nm thick chromium layers were deposited directly onto copper substrates by means of magnetron sputtering (MS) and direct current electrodeposition (ED). The obtained coatings were characterized regarding their thickness, morphology, color index, chemical composition, and corrosion resistance viewpoints. With respect to the electroplated samples, which constitute the benchmark, the magnetron sputtered ones appeared to be darker but showed a pleasing reflective appearance and superior thickness homogeneity, as well as the absence of voids and macrocracks, as evidenced by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) investigation. Regarding the anticorrosion performances of the chromium layers, electrochemical and standard salt spray test (NSS test) were carried out at room temperature in 3.5% NaCl solution, and evidenced similar, if not better, results for the magnetron sputtered coatings. On the whole, the data displayed here demonstrates the suitability of magnetron sputtering technology for use as an industrially feasible finishing technology for both aesthetic and mild-condition anticorrosion purposes.