The thin-film coating process is useful for a variety of industries. With applications in electronics, solar power and optics, among others, this technology is in increasingly high demand. With some coatings as precise as a thickness of only a few molecules, it's essential to have quality equipment and supplies to provide a quality and consistently dependable product.

With its varied applications comes the responsibility of choosing the correct thin-film equipment and thin-film materials for your application. When determining the best supplies for your business, keep the following in mind:

1. Purchase a thin-film machine that fits your process, coating, and target material.
2. Ensure you have ample accessories and supplies.
3. Determine if you can cut costs by employing a thin-film coating service.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find the thin-film equipment that best suits your needs

Each variety of thin-film coating requires differing materials, processes, coating material and target substrates. It's essential to purchase the machine that will best serve your specific needs, be it electrical, optical, or one of the other many applications for this technology. Quality suppliers of thin-film equipment will help you find a machine that best serves your needs.

I recommend: Satisloh provides a wide range of thin-film coating machines specifically designed for the precision optical industry. T-M Vacuum Products will customize a thin-coating system to meet your specific needs.

Acquire the thin-film materials you need for your process

The machine is only the basis for your thin-film coating process. You will need many other materials for a successful process. Since it is such a precise process, thin-film process monitors are essential. You will also need to find reliable suppliers of thin-film coating materials and thin-film sources.

I recommend: Williams Advanced Materials provides a wide range of thin film targets and thin-film material for a large number of different thin-film applications. Nor-Cal Products provide a large catalog of thin film coating instrumentation, including monitors, quartz crystals and other accessories. ULVAC Technologies offers a wide range of sputtering targets and evaporation materials.

Consider employing a thin-film coating service

If you have a low volume need for the thin-film coating process, it may be more cost-effective to choose a thin-film coating service to handle this aspect of your business. Most thin-film coating services offer a wide range of thin-coating processes, coating materials, and target materials.

I recommend: Reynard Corporation offers metallic, dielectric, anti-reflection, and conductive coating services at competitive prices. ThinFilms provides a wide range of sputtering and evaporated coating services, utilizing a comprehensive list of a available coating materials.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you're performing your own thin-film coating services, find a supplier that offers both the basic equipment along with the accessories to both cut costs and better ensure compatibility.