What is PVD?

PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) is a molecular process by which a faucet is finished with a uniform layer of deposited metals, metal alloys, or metal nitrides and oxides.

The resulting finish is a molecularly bonded finish that has become part of your faucet rather than a “dipped” or spray-coated faucet. The process is carried out in a large vacuum chamber (.013 atmospheres).
The faucets are placed into the evacuated chamber while an inert gas such as argon is backfilled and ionized. This cleans and prepares the parts for the metal deposition process. A metal is introduced to a high current, low voltage electrical arc resulting in a gaseous and ionized metal that is then accelerated at high energy and introduced to the chamber with inert or reactive gases.

The different mixtures of gases will react with the deposited metal resulting in various colors we see on faucets. For instance, zirconium and nitrogen are used to make the popular polished brass we see on most door handles and faucets.