Environmentally safe methods and apparatus for depositing and/or reclaiming a metal or semi-conductor material using sublimation
First Claim
1. A method for depositing a material onto at least one substrate within a chamber comprising the steps of:
- a. providing at least one substrate within said chamber;
b. providing at least one source material within said chamberc. providing a secondary emission surface within said chamber;
d. heating said source material;
e. vaporizing said source material to create a vaporized source material;
f. depositing a portion of said vaporized source material on said secondary emission surface;
g. heating said secondary emission surface to a temperature at which re-vaporization of said originally vaporized source material occurs;
h. re-emitting said deposited source material from said secondary emission surface; and
i. depositing said re-emitted source material onto said substrate.
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Abstract
This invention describes an environmentally and occupationally safer method and apparatus for coating and/or reclaiming materials in low pressure inert atmospheres. This invention is useful for coating a large number of irregularly shaped articles, such as industrial fasteners, tools and the like, with metals, semiconductor materials, composites, or alloys. The process related to this invention is also useful for coating parts in a rack or barrel type coating apparatus, as well as the continuous coating of parts which are fed through the path of material vapor streams. The processes and apparatus disclosed use sublimation techniques which allow almost unrestricted size, shape and placement of the depositing source. Heating sources serve to sublimate materials which can then be directed to the desired substrate for condensing. Additional heating sources may be provided to prevent vapors from condensing on chamber surfaces, or these heating sources may be used to periodically or continuously recover extraneously deposited material. In the reclamation mode, coated articles may be heated until sublimation of the coating occurs to allow the material to be reclaimed for safe disposal or reuse.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for depositing a material onto at least one substrate within a chamber comprising the steps of:
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a. providing at least one substrate within said chamber; b. providing at least one source material within said chamber c. providing a secondary emission surface within said chamber; d. heating said source material; e. vaporizing said source material to create a vaporized source material; f. depositing a portion of said vaporized source material on said secondary emission surface; g. heating said secondary emission surface to a temperature at which re-vaporization of said originally vaporized source material occurs; h. re-emitting said deposited source material from said secondary emission surface; and i. depositing said re-emitted source material onto said substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for depositing a material onto at least one substrate within a chamber comprising the steps of:
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a. providing at least one substrate within said chamber; b. providing at least one solid source material within said chamber wherein said source material has a melting temperature; c. providing at least one secondary emission surface within said chamber wherein said secondary emission surface is oriented toward said substrate; d. establishing a pressure below atmospheric pressure within said chamber at which said source material efficiently sublimates; e. heating said source material to a temperature less than its melting temperature; f. sublimating said source material to create a vaporized source material; g. depositing a portion of said vaporized source material on said secondary emission surface; h. heating said secondary emission surface to a temperature at which re-vaporization of said originally vaporized source material occurs; i. re-emitting said deposited source material from said secondary emission surface; and j. depositing said re-emitted source material onto said substrate. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification