Everything you need to know about optical elements metalization.

What is optical components metalization ?

It refers to the deposition of metal layer(s) on an optical component. (Gold, ITO, Aluminum, Silver, other metals..)

Why doing a metalization ?

• Possibility of heating components (for example for defrost them)
• Electro magnetic shielding  (Faraday cage principle)
• Support for brasing / welding. Components assembly, hermetic isolation of the component etc.
• Mirror effect, light reflexion.

How the metal deposition is carried out ?

Metalization is usually done in a vaccum coating device. It needs custom coating jigs for positionning and shape making of the metalization pattern. Coating is made by batch of several tenth or hundreds of parts, according to the part and the device dimensions.

Which are the different available metalizations ?

Optical areas treatments : gold, ITO (Indium Tin Oxyde), metalic micro mesh (Cu, Ni) for anti-glare treatments used for protection devices interfaces from sun light.

Around optical areas on the edge of components, for CrNiAu, TiNiAu, TiPtAu etc. mostly for weldability.

It is possible to add AR (anti-reflection) treatment on the metalized components.

Metalization is also used for reflective devices (mirrors) with aluminum, silver or other metal layers according to working wavelenghts.

What are the specifications of optical metalisations ?

• Good binding ASTM D2259.83 B
• non ferrous metals, so low oxydation risk. Salt spray test following MIL-C-48497 4.5.5.2
• Thermal resistance : MIL-C-48497, 4.5.4.1
• Solderability : MIL-STD-883
• Custom resistivity (from some ohms to several hundreds ohms for ITO)

Metalization treatments common usages.

• Aerospace / Defense
• Communication / optical fibers
• External used equipment displays
• IR detection
• Bio Medical
• Automotive
• Electromagntic shielding
• Component heating

Vision measuring equipment, better quality control reports, more precision !

On 4th and 5th of September will be held in Hangzhou, China, the G20 summit. The capital of Zhejiang Province will be hosting 20 international delegations and the industrial activity is expected to be drastically reduced in the surroundings. Although few formal statements were uttered, local media estimate that nearly 1,000 plants will shut down.

The 11th summit of the international meeting is a major issue of Chinese diplomatic policy. Measures are taken well in advance of the event to limit certain risks, including air pollution, as was the case among other meetings such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in 2014, or the Olympics Beijing in 2008.

A radius of 300 km has been drawn by authorities around Hangzhou, within which the most polluting industries should limit their activated or close their facilities the time of the event. The neighboring provinces of Shanghai and Jiangsu are also affected by these measures.

Heavy industries such as petrochemical and coal power plant is a prime target, but the phenomenon may spread due to traffic restrictions. Production interruptions plans have been schedule, some having started from June.

We recommend our customers to place their orders before the beginning of August, and expect a manufacturing slowdown in early September. The activity of the region should return to normal a week after the summit.

[:de]On 4th and 5th of September will be held in Hangzhou, China, the G20 summit. The capital of Zhejiang Province will be hosting 20 international delegations and the industrial activity is expected to be drastically reduced in the surroundings. Although few formal statements were uttered, local media estimate that nearly 1,000 plants will shut down.

The 11th summit of the international meeting is a major issue of Chinese diplomatic policy. Measures are taken well in advance of the event to limit certain risks, including air pollution, as was the case among other meetings such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in 2014, or the Olympics Beijing in 2008.

A radius of 300 km has been drawn by authorities around Hangzhou, within which the most polluting industries should limit their activated or close their facilities the time of the event. The neighboring provinces of Shanghai and Jiangsu are also affected by these measures.

Heavy industries such as petrochemical and coal power plant is a prime target, but the phenomenon may spread due to traffic restrictions. Production interruptions plans have been schedule, some having started from June.

We recommend our customers to place their orders before the beginning of August, and expect a manufacturing slowdown in early September. The activity of the region should return to normal a week after the summit.