Well-established deposition technologies like ARC or materials like AlTi/TiAl deliver solid results, but it is hard to differentiate yourself substantially here anymore. "Luckily" there has been a lot of movement in both fields that enable individual, tailormade coatings with potential for differentiation and increased margins.
I. Differentiation in technology and process
๐๐ฑ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ง๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ต๐ป๐ถ๐พ๐๐ฒ๐: ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ฆ-๐๐ฝ๐๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด
It has been there for a while but is really gaining momentum now. The higher ionization and energy of the sputtered material contribute to many advantages:
โ Improved hardness and wear resistance
โ Films with consistent and desired properties
โ Better machining performance of tools, higher corrosion resistance
All that can create added value. Industries that profit most are tooling, automotive (friction reduction) fuel cells, and optical coatings (corrosion and electrical properties).
๐๐ฑ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐
Introducing a reactive gas (such as O or N) along with the sputtering gas delivers the possibility to create thin films with much higher value. Examples: TiON, TiAlCN, for tools and decorative applications, photocatalysis with TiO2, and antireflection (SiO2) in solar cells.
Advantages:
โ Improved Product Performance: Thin films with specific electrical, optical, or mechanical properties >> Improved device performance and reliability.
โ Enhanced Functionality: Tailored properties, such as optical coatings for lenses or mirrors with specific reflectance or transmittance characteristics ย >> enhanced functionality and performance.
โ Customization and Differentiation: Precise control over properties such as color, hardness, and surface texture. >> Unique features and aesthetics.
๐๐ฑ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐น ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐บ๐ผ๐ป๐ถ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด
Advanced coating technologies and -processes in themselves require much more sophisticated monitoring and control equipment:
๐ฐ Reactive processes: Controlling the composition requires controlling the reactive gases ratio to ensure good reliability of the process.
๐ฐ Reactive gas control in general: Less defects, better homogeneity >> Higher prices possible.ย
II ๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ข๐ฃ๐๐ก๐ - ๐๐ป๐ป๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ฃ๐ฉ๐ ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น๐
Innovative, tailor-made coatings are a major driver to creating innovative layers, differentiating yourself and getting better prices. There are two main approaches nowadays:
The classical method: Doping
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ "๐ฐ๐น๐ฎ๐๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น", ๐๐ฒ๐น๐น-๐ฒ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฏ๐น๐ถ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐บ๐ฒ๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ ๐บ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฎ ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ("๐ฑ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ป๐ด"). The second element can induce specific changes and deliver new, decisive properties, the possible individual variation of the second element (within the limits set by nature and production methods) makes it possible to "finetune" the wished characteristics quite well. In a more strict definition "doping" means the introduction of impurities into a material to modify its electrical or optical properties but in PVD materials the term is more widely used, with the second element comprising even 10% or more.
The "fancy" method: HEA
High Entropy Alloys, known as HEA, are relatively new class of materials characterized by having multiple principal elements, 4-5 mainly, in roughly equal proportions. Benefits:
โ They offer a unique combination of properties, such as high strength, hardness, and corrosion resistance.
โ The composition of HEAs can be adjusted to achieve desired properties. This flexibility allows for the customization of thin films based on the specific requirements of a given application, providing a high degree of tunability.
Both approaches can deliver thin films with improved or unique properties, i.e. tailoring the properties of thin films for various technological applications and are therefore a valuable base for innovative PVD coatings and high-value products.
Comments