Graphite/Carbide

Carbide ceramics are a class of materials that are composed of carbon and another element, typically from the transition metal group. They exhibit exceptional properties such as high hardness, excellent thermal conductivity, and resistance to wear, making them highly desirable for various applications. In the context of thin film coating, carbide ceramics, including TiC, WC, MoC, SiC, and ZrC, offer unique advantages.

Titanium Carbide (TiC): TiC is renowned for its extreme hardness. It exhibits excellent wear resistance, high melting point, and chemical stability. In thin film coating applications, TiC coatings are used to enhance the surface hardness and wear resistance of cutting tools, forming dies, and metal molds. In order to deposite the TiC coating, sputtering technique is usually applied.

Tungsten Carbide (WC): WC is one of the most widely used carbide ceramics. It possesses remarkable hardness, good thermal stability, and resistance to corrosion. Coatings made based on tungsten carbide sputter targets find extensive applications in the cutting tool industry, where they significantly improve tool life and performance. Additionally, tungsten carbide coatings are employed in wear-resistant components for mining and drilling equipment.

Molybdenum Carbide (Mo2C): Mo2C exhibits excellent mechanical properties, including high hardness and good wear resistance. It also offers high thermal stability and resistance to oxidation. In thin film coating applications, MoC coatings are often utilized for surfaces subjected to severe wear, such as engine components, cutting tools, and turbine blades. In the coating process, MoC sputter targets are bombarded with high-energy ions in a vacuum chamber, causing atoms to be ejected from the target surface.

Silicon Carbide (SiC): SiC is a versatile carbide ceramic known for its exceptional hardness, high thermal conductivity, and excellent chemical resistance. SiC coatings are widely used in the semiconductor industry for their ability to provide electrical insulation and protect against harsh environments. They also find applications in high-temperature components, such as gas turbine blades, heat exchangers, and crucibles. To meet the market demand, silicon carbide sputter targets are manufactured in various sizes and purity grades using the hot pressing technique. This technique involves applying heat and pressure to compact silicon carbide powder into a solid target.

Boron Carbide (B4C): Boron carbide is a very light weighted advanced ceramic material. So, it is frequently used as personal ballistic protection applications. As a boron rich material, B4C also finds applications in nuclear scinece as neutron adsober. Like silicon carbide, boron carbide is also a material for structral ceramics. 

Zirconium Carbide (ZrC): ZrC possesses exceptional hardness, excellent thermal shock resistance, and high melting point. ZrC coatings are commonly used in the aerospace industry, particularly for protective coatings on materials exposed to high temperatures and corrosive environments. They are also employed in cutting tools and wear-resistant applications.

Tantalum Carbide (TaC) is a carbide ceramic known for its exceptional high temerature resistance. It is commonly used in supre high-temperature components and find it's place in aerospace industries. TaC can be also employed as a sputter target in thin film deposition processes, enabling the production of high-quality coatings with specific properties.