GVD's proprietary technology, Initiated Chemical Vapor Deposition (iCVD), was first pioneered by Dr. Karen Gleason at MIT.

Step 1: Part inserted into system, chamber is sealed, light vacuum is applied.
The parts/materials to be coated are first cleaned or pre-treated if necessary, and then inserted into a GVD coating system; a batch system (bench or production scale), roll-to-roll system, or particle coating system, depending on the size and format of the part(s). The coating process is done in a clean, sealed chamber under light vacuum.

Step 2: Monomer and initiator gases are introduced to the chamber, thermally activated, and in-situ polymerization is performed on the parts, which remain cool during the entire coating process.
In iCVD, a gas-phase initiator is thermally activated and combined with monomer vapor to induce a polymerization reaction on the surface of the part to be coated. Because the process occurs at reduced pressure and in the gas phase, GVD's coatings conform to parts with complex topologies, including intricate molds, nanofibers, foams, membranes, and particles. The reactive vapors infiltrate the structure of the part, forming an ultra-thin polymer coating on contact and "shrink-wrapping" nanoscale features.

The part remains cool during the coating process (≤40°C) and because there are no solvents used, no curing step is required. Eradicating solvents reduces high costs associated with solvent purchase, storage, handling, and disposal, and improves processing time. Parts which are sensitive to solvents can be coated – for example, polystyrene, and microstructures with fine features (e.g. MEMs), which might otherwise be damaged by capillary forces during solvent drying.

Step 3: Coating run stops when desired film thickness is achieved.
Coating thickness is precisely controlled; typically in the range of 10 nm to 10 microns. Deposition rates are high and the process uses low flow rates and low powers, making it efficient and environmentally friendly. Adhesion of the coating to most surfaces is excellent, and in many cases the coating can be chemically grafted to the surface.