In a PVD coating setup, which component is the cathode?

In a PVD coating setup, which component is the cathode?

• A. The dissimilar metal ingot
• B. The part being coated
• C. The chamber walls
• D. The power supply

Answer: (A)

In a PVD coating setup, the electrode that is negatively biased to attract ionized gas and to sputter material is the target material itself. That target, often a dissimilar metal ingot, acts as the cathode because it is the source of atoms that are ejected and deposited onto the part being coated. The component being coated sits on the opposite electrode and is effectively the anode, receiving the coating. The chamber walls are typically grounded and do not serve as the active cathode. The power supply provides the voltage to establish the plasma and bias the electrodes, but it is not the cathode itself.

In a PVD coating setup, the electrode that is negatively biased to attract ionized gas and to sputter material is the target material itself. That target, often a dissimilar metal ingot, acts as the cathode because it is the source of atoms that are ejected and deposited onto the part being coated. The component being coated sits on the opposite electrode and is effectively the anode, receiving the coating. The chamber walls are typically grounded and do not serve as the active cathode. The power supply provides the voltage to establish the plasma and bias the electrodes, but it is not the cathode itself.