IBS Thin-Film Coating
- Durable, dielectric thin films are easy to clean and chemically resistant
- Dense, non-porous structure is insensitive to moisture
- Low scatter and absorption losses result in high-damage thresholds
- Repeatable, highly controlled process for precise layer control
Why Choose PPC Coatings?
At PPC, we use ion-beam sputtering (IBS) technology because IBS is a repeatable and controllable process that results in dense, durable, high-damage-threshold thin films. Since the materials are directly sputtered onto the substrate, the process can be precisely controlled and easily automated so that films can be deposited with extremely high accuracy and repeatability.
Unlike conventional evaporative and ion-assisted films that have porous microstructures, IBS films have extremely densely packed structures that make them impervious to water vapor, resulting in an insensitivity to changes in heat and humidity, even in a vacuum environment.
Coating Types
- High reflectors
- Anti-reflection (ARs)
- Beamsplitters
- Polarizers
- Partial reflectors
- Dichroic mirrors
- Non-polarizers
- Low dispersion
- Broadband dielectric
More Information:
Why dielectric coatings instead of metal?Benefits of Sputtered vs. Evaporative Coatings
| Electron beam evaporation | Ion Assisted Deposition | Magnetron Sputtering | Ion Beam Sputtering | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | $ | $$ | $ - $$ | $$$ |
| Deposition Rate | >10 Å/sec | ~10 Å/sec | ~10 Å/sec | ~3 Å/sec |
| Coating area per run | 1256 - 4400cm2 | 1256 - 4400cm2 | > 4400cm2 | 650 - 1250cm2 |
| Laser Damage Threshold (1064 HR) | ~ 5 to 30 J/cm2, 20ns | ~ 5 to 30 J/cm2, 20ns | ~ 10 J/cm2, 20ns | >40 J/cm2, 20ns |
| Absorption | >100 ppm | >50-100ppm | 10ppm | <2 ppm |
| Thermal Conductivity | Low | Medium | High | High |
| Temperature Range | 200 - 300°C | 20 - 100°C | 20 - 100°C | 20 - 150°C |
| Number of Layers | 1-50 | ~50 | ~50-100 | 200 |
| Surface Micro-Roughness -> Scatter | +10Å RMS | +8Å RMS | <5Å RMS | <1Å RMS (conformal) |
| Density / Porosity | Porous | Dense | Near bulk | Near bulk |
| Adhesion / Durability | Low | Good | Very good | Excellent |
| Humidity Sensitivity | Yes | Yes, small | No | No |
| Aging Effects | Yes | Yes, small | No | No |
| Intrinsic Stress | < 100MPa | ~ 100MPa | Yes, few 100MPa | Yes, few 100MPa, reproducible |
| Wavelength Range | 193nm-10000nm | 200nm-10000nm | 250-3000nm | 250-3000nm |
* These values are typical values indicative of average industry standards. They in no way represent a specific supplier other than Precision Photonics and exceptions may exist.