An artistic revolution from basic materials to surface engineering
In the microcosm of modern manufacturing, an ultra-thin and invisible coating often determines the performance, lifespan and value of a product. The core driver of this surface revolution is precisely the high-purity vanadium sheet and its refined processed form - the vanadium target. Through advanced physical vapor deposition technology, they provide a "unbreakable" or "shimmering" nano-coat for semiconductor devices, high-performance tools and fashionable decorations.
The starting point of any top-quality product lies in high-purity raw materials. Vanadium sheets play a crucial foundational role in this chain.
The vanadium sheets used for preparing sputtering targets usually require a purity of up to 99.9% (3N) or even 99.95% (3N5) or higher. Any trace impurities can become defect centers in the coating, leading to a decrease in its conductivity, density or adhesion, especially in nanoscale semiconductor applications, which is fatal.
High-quality vanadium sheets should have a uniform grain structure and extremely low internal defects (such as pores and inclusions). This ensures that when they are further processed into vanadium targets, the structure can remain uniform and stable. It can be said that without high-purity and well-structured vanadium sheets, all subsequent high-end applications would be impossible.
Vanadium sheets are the raw materials, while vanadium targets are the functional components directly applied in production. This transformation process is the essence of materials engineering.
Through a series of precise processing techniques such as cutting, welding, and rolling, the vanadium sheet is transformed into vanadium targets of specific sizes and shapes (usually circular or rectangular), and is firmly bonded to a dedicated backing plate to ensure efficient heat and electrical conductivity during the sputtering process. To obtain high-performance vanadium targets, powder metallurgy technology is typically employed. The high-purity vanadium powder is formed through cold pressing or hot isostatic pressing, then sintered at high temperatures, ultimately resulting in a dense solid with fine grains and a density close to the theoretical value. This vanadium target becomes the "source" for the subsequent coating process.
The core application of vanadium targets in PVD processes
Physical vapor deposition (PVD) is a technology that deposits the atomic layers of the target material onto the surface of the substrate in a vacuum environment to form a film.
Vanadium targets shine brightly in this process, mainly by two methods to create value:
1. Application in the semiconductor industry: After the ultra-high purity vanadium target is sputtered, a very thin vanadium film can be formed on the surface of the silicon wafer.
This film is mainly used as a diffusion barrier layer. As the chip manufacturing process enters the nanometer era, copper interconnect lines need to be isolated from the silicon substrate to prevent copper atoms from diffusing into silicon and causing device failure. The vanadium film can effectively prevent copper diffusion while having good conductivity, ensuring the performance and reliability of the chip.
2. During the PVD process, nitrogen gas is introduced into the vacuum chamber. The vanadium atoms sputtered from the vanadium target will react with nitrogen atoms, depositing a golden-yellow vanadium nitride (VN) ceramic coating on the workpiece surface. This makes its application more widespread:
The hardness of the VN coating is extremely high (approximately 2400 Vickers), significantly reducing the friction coefficient between the tool and the processing material, thereby increasing the tool life by several times. Under the high temperature generated during high-speed dry cutting, the VN coating can effectively protect the underlying hard alloy substrate, preventing it from softening and oxidizing. The VN coating presents an elegant and long-lasting golden color, with a color and texture comparable to 18K gold, but at a much lower cost.
This coating is used for the cases, chains, eyeglass frames and jewelry of high-end watches. It can effectively resist the erosion of sweat, cosmetics and daily scratches, maintaining a "always as new" luster for a long time.
From high-purity raw vanadium plates to functional vanadium targets that have undergone precise processing, and finally to the nanometer-scale films achieved through PVD technology - this is a complete chain of material value enhancement. The vanadium sheets are the source and quality guarantee of all this, while the vanadium targets are the key medium that releases the value of the source materials to countless cutting-edge products.
Together, they demonstrate that in today's industrial world, even the most invisible coatings are backed by profound technical expertise ranging from the material source to the manufacturing process. This is precisely the reason why vanadium sheets and vanadium targets hold an irreplaceable position in the field of surface engineering.
Fortu Tech supplies vanadium sheet to multiple countries and regions around the world. Its service coverage includes the United States, Canada, Russia, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Sweden, Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, Czech Republic, Poland, Japan, South Korea, as well as Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and other places in Latin America.
Fortu Tech can produce and process vanadium foil, vanadium Capillary Tube, vanadium billet, vanadium sheet & plate, vanadium rod, vanadium wire, vanadium tubes.