Written by: Denton Vacuum, LLC
Summary: In manufacturing, vacuum coatings are used to give materials different properties.
In heavy-duty manufacturing, there are basically two kinds of vacuum coating systems used during production. These two systems accomplish some of the same tasks, but how they perform their duties makes a big difference. There is a definite question of which is best for your situation, but you can make a more informed decision once you understand the differences.
Thermal Systems
A thermal evaporation system superheats materials that will be used to coat a substrate. The substrate receives the coating rather passively as the materials settle. The chamber is cooled, and the materials harden on the substrate to form a thin coat. There isn’t much pressure involved, so this process isn’t useful if you need to add heavy layers of coating to something. Evaporation also has limits on the materials you can use, and temperature sensitive substrates can break down during the process if the manufacturer isn’t careful.
Sputter Systems
A sputter deposition system is generally more expensive than a thermal system, but it can add several important benefits. For one, sputtering allows for better step coverage. Even though sputtering is a complex process, it’s also easy to replicate and automate.
Final Thoughts
Sputtering is most useful when you need to apply a dense coating to materials. Thermal evaporation is useful for products that need only a thin film coating. You should also keep in mind what materials you’re working with, as some are more sensitive to temperatures than others.