One of the main applications of chromium is the production of stainless steel and chrome plating. The process of electroplating a thin layer of chromium onto a metal object can be done to add aesthetic appeal or to make the surface harder and more corrosion-resistant. Chrome plating can produce chromium layers as thin as 0.001...Continue Reading
Aluminum (Al) belongs to the main Group 13 (III, or boron group) of the periodic table. The Latin term alumen, which refers to potash alum or aluminum potassium sulfate, KAl(SO4)212H2O, is where the name aluminum originates. Aluminum is a light silvery white metal and the most common non-ferrous metal. Aluminum never appears in nature in the...Continue Reading
The foundation of plasma technology is a basic physical principle. When energy is applied to matter, solids become liquids, and liquids turn into gases. If yet more energy is applied, the gas is ionized and it enters the energy-rich plasma state, the fourth state of matter. Plasma is a word used to describe matter that...Continue Reading
Why Tungsten is Used for Furnace Heating The decision to use a particular material for heating is a function of the temperature range and conditions the material can tolerate. High-temperature furnaces must be capable of withstanding temperatures that melt materials like titanium. These furnaces, which are typically built of graphite, usually produce reactive carbon pollution...Continue Reading
What is PVD Coating? Physical vapor deposition (PVD) coating refers to various coating techniques in which thin layers are created on a substrate using physical techniques. Each technology has a unique set of benefits. PVD coating starts by depositing films with precise stoichiometries to achieve color PVD finishes (ratio of certain elements). Typically, a base...Continue Reading
If you’ve ever heard of thin film coatings, then you might know about Sputtering! This involves materials being ejected from a source called a “target” onto a “substrate” like a silicon wafer. By injecting a reactive gas (usually oxygen or nitrogen) into the plasma, which is normally created by an inert gas like argon (the...Continue Reading
Introduction of Bismuth Bismuth, with the chemical symbol Bi, is an important element found naturally in compounds, known as ores. Bismuth is a high-density, silvery metal with a pink tinge. Even though it is a heavy metal, bismuth has very low toxicity. This has to lead to it being a replacement for lead. Bismuth metal is...Continue Reading
What is an AZO Sputtering Target? AZO sputtering targets are also referred to as aluminum-doped zinc oxide sputtering targets. Aluminum-doped zinc oxide is a transparent conducting oxide. This oxide is insoluble in water but is thermally stable. AZO sputtering targets are typically used for thin-film deposition. Doping is a process that involves intentionally adding impurities...Continue Reading
What is Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD)? Pulse laser deposition is a method of physical vapor deposition. In this process, a high-power pulsed laser beam is centered on a target within the vacuum chamber. The laser beam vaporizes the target material and deposits it as a thin film on a substrate. The process involves evaporation, ablation,...Continue Reading
