TY - CONF A1 - Beck, Uwe A1 - Baier, Jennifa A1 - Hidde, Gundula A1 - Sahre, Marion A1 - Weise, Matthias T1 - Particles in PVD-coatings: Imperfection or functional add-on feature? N2 - The application of PVD-coatings ranges from mechanical engineering, i.e. thicker tribological coatings, to precision optics, i.e. thinner optical coatings. For physical vapor deposition (PVD) technologies such as evaporation, sputtering, ion beam assisted/driven deposition, vacuum is a prerequisite for two reasons: at first process-related ones (evaporation source, plasma discharge, and mean free path) and at second coating-related ones (pure, perfect, and dense films). Usually, the goal is a homogenous coating of defined stoichiometry and micro-structure without any imperfection. However, the implementation of micro- or nano-particles may occur accidentally or delibe-rately. Independent of the particle origin, there are two fundamental rules regarding coating functionality: at first, the larger the particle diameter to coating thickness ratio the more affected the functionality of the coating, and at second, the larger the material contrast in terms of the functional feature of interest the more affected the coating performance. Hence, embedded particles have to be avoided for the majority of thin films by all means. The unintended implementation of particles usually results in a malfunction of the coating from the beginning or is at least considered as a weak point of the coating creating a time-dependent defect under service conditions. The intended implementation of particles on surfaces and in coatings may create add-on features, topographic ones and functional ones, however, the facts mentioned hold true. Examples of particle-initiated coating defects are demonstrated in dependence on the origin and the field of application. Strategies for deliberate attachment/embedding of particles on surfaces/in coatings are discussed regarding process compatibility and coating integrity. For industrial applications, both the validation of process compatibility of particle injection and the plasma resistance of particles under vacuum and plasma conditions have to be confirmed. Further points of interest are the homogeneity of particle distribution and the avoidance of particle agglomeration which is still a crucial point for dry dispersed particles. So far, technical applications are limited to PVD hybrid coatings, plasma dispersion coatings are still a challenge except for applications where homogeneity is not required as in case of product authentication. T2 - ICMCTF 2018, International Conference on Metallurgical Coatings and Thin Films CY - San Diego, CA, USA DA - 23.04.2018 KW - PVD-coatings KW - PVD-processes KW - Unintended particle generation KW - Particles as imperfections KW - Deliberate particle implementation KW - Particles as add-on features PY - 2018 AN - OPUS4-44973 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -