"Black art" of thin film coating: why this term is used and how to change this mind-set

S. W. Jansen; Philip J. Hatchett; S. W. Hughes; D. Paul Jones; Desmond R. Gibson

doi:10.1117/12.246806

19 August 1996 "Black art" of thin film coating: why this term is used and how to change this mind-set

S. W. Jansen, Philip J. Hatchett, S. W. Hughes, D. Paul Jones, Desmond R. Gibson

Proceedings Volume 2776, Developments in Optical Component Coatings; (1996) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.246806
Event: Optical Instrumentation and Systems Design, 1996, Glasgow, United Kingdom

Abstract

The words 'black art' are often associated with thin film coating. We cast our spell on a coating plant and, as if by magic, the glass is transformed. The problem is that the spell sometimes fails and we end up with stone instead of gold. When we ask the magician (coating technician) what went wrong, the answer is all too often 'I did it exactly the same way as the last time'. This creates the perception that thin film coating is a black art because clearly something different did happen. What we don't know is which of the multitude of parameters went wrong, and often the only way to find out is through a process of elimination. This is very costly to the industry both in monetary value and image.

Citation Download Citation

S. W. Jansen, Philip J. Hatchett, S. W. Hughes, D. Paul Jones, and Desmond R. Gibson ""Black art" of thin film coating: why this term is used and how to change this mind-set", Proc. SPIE 2776, Developments in Optical Component Coatings, (19 August 1996); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.246806

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