Thin Film Coating R&D Facility

Thin film coatings are precisely synthesised layered films of nanometre thickness. Advances in thin film processing have revolutionised the world of technology around us such as, microelectronics, lighting, displays, photovoltaics and telecommunications.

Thin film technology impacts all major sectors including:

Aerospace & Automotive Solar & Photovoltaics

Electronics & Optoelectronics Scientific & Medical

Agriculture & Environmental Defence & Security

CPE’s £1.2M research and development thin film coating facility is the first of its kind in Wales and allows companies within the West Wales and the Valleys region to develop thin film technology products and applications. CPE’s team of thin film specialists work closely with these companies supporting prototype development as well as production scale commercial R&D developing thin film vacuum deposition processes and products.

The CPE Thin Film Coating Facility is situated at Wrexham-Glyndwr University’s OpTIC Centre in St Asaph. It features an industry benchmark vacuum coating plant along with key supporting equipment for optical analysis and environmental testing.

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CPE Capability Focus 1 – Thin Film Coating Facility

Specific applications include:

Camera lenses and systems
Optoelectronics and microlithography
Photovoltaics, sensors and filters
Laser and mirror coatings
Microscopes and telescopes

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For R&D production of high density thin films for prototyping and mass production.

Chamber width of 1350 mm
Two electron beam deposition sources
One thermal evaporator
Plasma Ion Assisted Deposition (PIAD) RF plasma source to improve the density and quality of thin films
Capable of optical coatings for deep UV to far infrared wavelengths
Integrated optical monitoring system

Measures transmission, reflection and absorption from ultraviolet to near-infrared wavelengths across a wide angle range.