Metal mirrors are excellent broadband reflectors. Customers may get broadband metal coatings from Alfa Chemistry to satisfy all of their broadband reflectance application needs. Custom metal coatings are optimized for different regions of the spectrum. Protected aluminum, improved aluminum, UV-enhanced aluminum, DUV-enhanced aluminum, bare gold, protected gold, and protected silver are all included in our basic metallic mirror coatings. Protected and enhanced aluminum can be used for visible applications. UV and DUV enhanced aluminum is frequently utilized for UV and visible light applications. High reflectivity for near infrared (NIR) and infrared wavelengths is provided by bare or protected gold. Alfa Chemistry's design team will recommend the best coating for your application!
Learn About Metal Coatings
Protected Silver Coatings
Silver is a great option for broadband applications that span many spectral areas because of its strong reflectivity in the visible and infrared spectral ranges. This coating performs best in low humidity environments.
Fig 1. AFM topographic images of the SiC substrate surface as-received (a,b,c) and after (d,e,f) deposition of the silver mirror layer by cathodic magnetron sputtering. (Limam E, et al. 2018)
Enhanced Aluminum Coatings
The multilayer dielectric coatings on aluminum can be employed to boost reflectivity in the visible or UV area. UV and DUV enhanced aluminum typically offer greater reflectivity between 120 and 400 nm. For protected aluminum coatings, multi-layer films can offer better processing features.
Protected Aluminum Coatings
The most widely used metal coating is typically standard protected aluminum, which is frequently utilized for visual and near-infrared applications. To safeguard the delicate aluminum, we've decided to use λ/2 layer of silicon monoxide. This process preserves the functionality of the aluminum mirror while providing a surface that is resistant to wear.
Bare Gold and Protected Gold
For applications needing high reflectivity in the NIR and IR ranges, gold coatings are particularly efficient. We provide gold with a protective coating since many applications need for a long-lasting coating. The polish of the optics is more durable, but the performance of gold is not affected.
Our Broadband Metallic Coatings
Alfa Chemistry offers its customers four specialized broadband metal coatings covering UV, visible and infrared light.
| Coating 1 | Coating 2 | Coating 3 | Coating 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Substrate Material | BK7, BOROFLOAT, etc. | |||
| Damage Threshold | Coating 1: 100W/cm2 0.3J/cm2, 10 nsec pulses @308nm,typical EA: 100W/cm2 0.3J/cm2,10 nsec pulses @532nm,typical PS: 1000W/cm2 1J/cm2, 10 nsec pulses @1064nm,typical PG: 200W/cm2 1J/cm2, 10 nsec pulses @1064nm,typical | |||
| Wavelength Range | 250~600 nm | 450~700 nm | 480~1100 nm 1100~20000 nm | 650~1700 nm 1700~20000 nm |
| Reflectivity per Surface | Ravg>90% | Ravg>93%, Rmin>90% | Ravg>96%, Rmin>93% Ravg>98.5%, Rmin>97% | Ravg>96%, Rmin>93% Ravg>98%, Ravg>96% |
| Coating Type | UV Enhanced Aluminum | Enhanced Aluminum | Protected Silver | Protected Gold |
Coating Engineering
The foundation of Alfa Chemistry's competence is optical coating engineering. We draw on our wealth of knowledge to offer our clients the most reliable and powerful solutions. We are experts in developing unique coatings, enhancing processes, and designing coatings. We have the Ebeam, IBS, and IAD technologies to give you a variety of options so we can give you the best solution. We also examine materials grown using electron beam and thermal evaporation as well as magnetron sputtering.
If you need technical advice, please contact our technical team to learn more about our high-quality services.
Reference
- Limam E, et al. (2018). "Local Degradation Mechanisms by Tarnishing of Protected Silver Mirror Layers Studied by Combined Surface Analysis." J. Phys. Chem. B. 122(2): 578-586.