The colorSENSOR CFO enables reliable inline color testing of vacuum coatings. Special CFS sensors are connected to the controller, which can withstand temperatures of up to 600 °C and pressures of up to10-5 mbar and can therefore measure directly in a vacuum chamber.
Image Credit: Micro-Epsilon
Vacuum coatings are used in numerous high-tech industries – from automotive, optics, and medical technology to consumer electronics. In addition to functional properties, the coatings also influence the visual appearance of a component. As color, saturation, and gloss level depend heavily on the process parameters, even the smallest deviations lead to visible color differences. Precise, repeatable color testing is therefore an essential part of quality assurance.
Inline Measurement Under Extreme Process Conditions
The colorSENSOR CFO enables continuous color measurement directly in the vacuum chamber. Specially developed CFS sensors are used here, which reliably perform measurements at pressures of up to 10-5 mbar (high vacuum) and temperatures of up to 600 °C. With a repeatability of ΔE < 0.3 and measuring frequencies of up to 30 kHz, process parameters can be monitored and controlled in real time. This ensures high stability in the coating process and significantly reduces waste.
Consistent Color Quality for Challenging Surfaces
Vacuum coatings are applied to the surface either physically (PVD process) or chemically (CVD process). PVD and CVD coatings each place different demands on process control and temperature management. While PVD processes are characterized by evaporation or sputtering processes, CVD processes are based on chemical reactions in the process chamber. The colorSENSOR CFO supports both technologies with reliable, in-process color monitoring. The measurement data obtained helps to keep the coating quality and optical properties constant across different processes and material systems.