Which metal is commonly involved alongside gold in the Vacuum Metal Deposition process?

In the Vacuum Metal Deposition (VMD) process, zinc is commonly used alongside gold due to its properties that enhance the effectiveness of the deposition technique. The process is designed to deposit a thin layer of metal on surfaces, and zinc serves as an ideal substrate or base layer for the deposition of gold due to its ability to adhere well to certain surfaces and improve the visibility of latent prints. This combination is particularly valuable in forensic science for developing prints, as the gold layer provides a reflective surface that can enhance the contrast and clarity of the prints when viewed under specific lighting conditions.

While other metals like copper, silver, and nickel have their own use cases in various deposition techniques or forensic applications, zinc's specific interaction and adhesion properties with gold make it particularly suitable for the VMD process, emphasizing its importance in this context.