Pinnoituksilla

Pinnoituksilla is a Finnish term that refers to the application of a coating or layer to the surface of a material. In industrial and scientific contexts, pinnoitus denotes protective, functional, or decorative coatings designed to alter surface properties such as hardness, wear resistance, corrosion resistance, friction, or appearance. The phrase pinnoituksilla can be used to describe coating processes, the resulting coated surfaces, or the general practice of coating in metalworking, plastics and other materials.

Coating methods encompassed by pinnoituksilla include electroplating (electrolytic deposition from a solution), electroless plating (chemical deposition without external current), thermal spraying (spraying molten or preheated particles onto a surface), as well as thin-film techniques such as chemical vapor deposition and physical vapor deposition. In practice, coatings range from simple metal platings to advanced ceramic or diamond-like carbon (DLC) layers, and from bulk protective coatings to ultra-thin functional films.

Common coating materials include nickel, zinc, copper, and chromium for metals; hard coatings such as titanium nitride (TiN), titanium carbonitride (TiCN), and DLC; ceramic, polymeric, and composite coatings. Applications span automotive components, fasteners, cutting tools, bearings, electronics connectors, medical implants, and consumer electronics. Advantages of pinnoituksilla typically include reduced wear, improved corrosion resistance, lower friction, and enhanced appearance, though coating thickness, adhesion, substrate compatibility, and cost are critical considerations.

Regulatory and environmental aspects, such as restrictions on certain chromium compounds and process sustainability, influence material choices and process selection. See also coating, electroplating, PVD, CVD.