PVD Brass

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What is PVD Brass?

PVD stands for Physical Vapour Deposition and is a process where metal surfaces such as brass door handles and letter plates are placed inside a vacuum chamber and coated in a thin layer of molecules of hard wearing metals such as Zirconium. This layer of hard wearing molecules is so strong it stops the brass from tarnishing.

Brass itself is a non-ferous, red metal that is an alloy of copper and zinc. The brass being non-ferrous means it will not rust making it ideal for both internal and external applications.

Alongside polished brass there are many other different finishes of brass including Polished Brass, Antique Brass and Satin Brass.

What does PVD stand for?

PVD stands for Physical Vapour Deposition.
Some companies have brand names for their PVD items such as Everbrite and Stainless Brass or just PVD Brass.

What is the PVD Brass finish

PVD is a process where metal surfaces such as brass door handles and letter plates are placed inside a vacuum chamber and coated in a thin layer of molecules of hard wearing metals such as Zirconium. This layer of hard wearing molecules is so strong it stops the brass from tarnishing.

What colour is PVD Brass?

PVD brass is a rich golden colour that produces a very high mirror-like shine. PVD is very similar to polished brass in this respect, but the PVD has a slightly richer hue. The PVD colour can vary slightly between manufacturers depending on how much the product has been coated and other factors.

Polished Brass PVD Brass

Are PVD Brass products made from real brass?

Yes most of the PVD items are made from real brass. There are some products on the market such as hinges which are made from stainless steel, electro brass plated and then put through the PVD process.

What are the advantages of PVD Brass over regular Polished Brass?

The PVD door furniture is ideal for areas where regular polished brass items would tarnish quickly such as:

Costal areas
Public buildings such as banks and offices
General external areas such as front doors

The PVD can withstand the salt in the air when living by the sea, the moisture and acidity from people’s hands in public buildings and when fitted in normal external conditions it will withstand the pollution in the air and the acidity in the rain.

It is worth noting that while the finish of the item (the polished brass) is protected by the PVD process the mechanisms and springs inside the items are not. For PVD Brass items fitted in harsh conditions you should keep mechanisms and springs well-greased and oiled.

How long will PVD products last?

Most companies offer a 25 year guarantee with their PVD ranges. This guarantee covers the brass from tarnishing in those 25 years.
This long guarantee proves that the PVD finish is designed to last a very long time, even in coastal areas where polished brass items would normally tarnish very quickly in the salty sea air.

How to clean PVD Brass

One of the main benefits of PVD Brass items are that they are virtually maintenance free and are guaranteed not to tarnish. Some companies recommend cleaning the products every couple of months to remove deposits of dirt and fingerprints, this is best done with warm soapy water. For stubborn marks white spirit can be used. As with any metal finish the more regularly the item is cleaned the longer it will last and the nicer it will look.

Our top PVD Brass Products

Our top Antique Brass products consist of: