New VaporStar* Intermetallic Composite Evaporation Boats Offer Ease of Use and Longer Life

Designed for Optimal Performance

Intermetallic composites from Momentive Performance Materials meet the needs of today's vacuum metallizing industry.  Our ceramics withstand higher operating temperatures, have lower moisture sensitivity, low thermal expansion, and high density.  Available in a selection of resistance ranges, IMC boats can be tailored to match available power supplies.  These unique properties provide the vacuum metallizer a resistance heated source that operates at high evaporation levels, and is extremely durable in operation.

High Theoretical Density

The theoretical density is very high, thereby providing minimum porosity and a minimum exposed surface area.  This results in longer boat life due to reduced chemical attack.

Low Thermal Expansion

As a result of the low oxygen content, the total thermal expansion is low.  This means the boats are subject to less mechanical and thermal stresses during operation.

Low Moisture Pickup

The moisture pickup is very low which allows the user to omit the special handling techniques required of hygroscopic grades.

Special Coatings

Coatings are available for boat cavities which enhance the spread of the molten metal and promote more uniform metallizing.

Material Properties

Dimensional Tolerances *

We make our own raw materials Our IMC material is made from the highest quality raw materials available.  The two major components, Boron Nitride (BN) and Titanium Diboride (TiB(2)), are manufactured at our Cleveland, Ohio facility.  A computerized, continuous process control produces powders with unparalleled consistency and uniformity.

Boron Nitride

A synthesized ceramic powder which exhibits the following properties:

• High thermal conductivity
• Electrical Insulation
• Improved thermal shock resistance
• Resistance to attack by molten metals
• High temperature stability

Titanium Diboride

Also a ceramic material, its unique properties make it an ideal component in IMC materials:

• High thermal conductivity
• Electrical conductor
• Combines hardness and strength
• Resistant to attack by molten metals

By controlling the percentage of titanium diboride, a specific "room temperature" resistivity of the resultant "hot-pressed" preform is achieved.  Hot pressing takes place at about 1800 PSI with temperatures exceeding 1900°C.

The "hot pressing" makes a ceramic with high theoretical density which is resistant to corrosive and physical attack from aluminum.  The composite also exhibits a low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and a permanent expansion which provides dependable electrical contact during thermal cycling.

Making the Boats The final step is to characterize the boats, using SPC techniques, based upon their resistivity, machining tolerances, strength and other physical characteristics.  More than 25 variables are continually documented to provide our customers with evaporation boats that help to minimize metallizing system variability. Once the hot-pressed ceramic preform is cooled, it is cut into plates and machined to a boat size specified by the customer.  A cavity is then machined into the boat and the lower edges are radiused for easy insertion into side clamps.

Designed to meet your specifications

Since no two metallizers operate exactly the same, we tailor our IMC boats to meet your electrical requirements and design specifications.  We also offer a choice of ceramic formulations to fit the high deposition rates required for the packaging industry, as well as the slower, more precise rates typical of solar/microwave applications.

Technical support

Our technical staff is at your service, worldwide to provide design and application assistance, and to help solve your unique metallization problems.

Additionally, our capability to provide complete operator training insures greater understanding of IMC boats and has proven to be a significant factor in optimizing boat performance.