Novel GIMS technique for deposition of colored Ti/TiO2 coatings on industrial scale

Abstract

The aim of the present paper has been to verify the effectiveness and usefulness of a novel deposition process named GIMS (Gas Injection Magnetron Sputtering) used for the first time for deposition of Ti/TiO2 coatings on large area glass substrates covered in the condition of industrial scale production. The Ti/TiO2 coatings were deposited in an industrial system utilizing a set of linear magnetrons with the length of 2400 mm each for covering the 2000 × 3000 mm glasses. Taking into account the specific course of the GIMS (multipoint gas injection along the magnetron length) and the scale of the industrial facility, the optical coating uniformity was the most important goal to check. The experiments on Ti/TiO2 coatings deposited by the use of GIMS were conducted on substrates in the form of glass plates located at the key points along the magnetrons and intentionally non-heated during any stage of the process. Measurements of the coatings properties showed that the thickness and optical uniformity of the 150 nm thick coatings deposited by GIMS in the industrial facility (the thickness differences on the large plates with 2000 mm width did not exceed 20 nm) is fully acceptable form the point of view of expected applications e.g. for architectural glazing.