Abstract Submission Guidelines

Use the simple On-line Abstract Registration Process to submit Abstracts to the SVC Technical Conference Sessions and Smart Materials Symposium Sessions.

Session Overviews

Joint Session: on Plasma Processing of Webs
Plasma Processing – featuring a Special Session on HIPIMS
Vacuum Web Coating
Joint Session: Processes, Materials, and Systems for Flexible Electronics
Optical Coating
Tribological & Decorative Coating
Large Area Coating
Process Control & Instrumentation
Emerging Technologies
Heuréka! Post-Deadline Recent Developments Session – Abstract Deadline is extended to March 3, 2005 to be included in the Final Program.
Poster Session – Abstract Deadline is extended to March 3, 2005
Innovators Showcase
Smart Materials

A Call for Papers from SVC TAC Chairs

Joint Session on Plasma Processing of Webs

Plasma processing of flexible webs has become increasingly important in both the commercialization of new products and the reduction of costs for production of established products. Plasma-based technologies offer potentially higher deposition rates and a more flexible choice in both gas phase and surface deposition chemistries. Many researchers now consider plasma-based technologies to be potentially an enabling technology in polymer-based web coating. However, there are many technical issues to be resolved before the marriage of the two communities is solidified.

The SVC Plasma Processing and Vacuum Web TACs are pleased to announce a joint session specifically devoted to the science and technology associated with the plasma processing of flexible substrates. We are soliciting presentations from corporate, government, and academic institutions to present in our forum. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Plasma pre-treatment of polymer webs
• PECVD of thin films on flexible substrates with application including barrier coatings for food-based and electronics-based technologies, optical materials, hard coatings, functional materials, and medical and biological applications
• Sputtering of novel and new materials onto flexible substrates
• Plasma polymerization on webs
• Plasma-based chemistries that generate super-hydrophobic/oleophobic or super-hydrophilic surfaces and their applications
• Plasma treatment of metal, paper, or cloth webs
• Plasma surface modification, organic functionalization, or post-treatment grafting to polymer webs
• Atmospheric plasma web treatment technologies
• Novel plasma sources developed specifically for web handling applications
• Surface studies of plasma treated webs
• In-line metrology and plasma process diagnostics/sensor development
• Modeling and theoretical studies in plasma web interactions

We expect a large turnout, so register early!

Vasgen A. Shamamian, Dow Corning (v.shamamian@dowcorning.com), is the Plasma Processing TAC Chair, and Peter Moulds, Ursa International (ursaintl@sbcglobal.net), is the Vacuum Web TAC Chair.

Plasma Processing

Plasma physics and plasma surface chemistry comprise the fundamental underpinnings of many dry coating process technologies currently available to the thin film industry. The range of materials applications varies from hard coatings on metals and glass to organic surface functionalization for biological adhesion. In all applications, a fundamental understanding of plasma properties and surface interactions is crucial to superior process control and ultimately a better quality product. The rapidly evolving need for high-performance materials necessitates an even greater understanding of plasma sources and the subsequent plasma-surface interactions.

In 2005 the SVC Plasma Processing TAC is proud to participate in two Joint Sessions focused in the growing area of plasma treatment of materials. We are hosting a session jointly with the Vacuum Web TAC entitled “Plasma Processing of Webs.” In addition we are joining with the Optical, Vacuum Web, and Large Area TACs in organizing the special session on Flexible Electronics (see separate announcements on these Joint Sessions).

In addition to these activities, we are also creating a special session within our TAC forum to address the important new technique known as High-Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering (HIPIMS). HIPIMS has found its first applications in hard coatings, substrate pretreatment, low friction, and optical layers. The high ionization of the HIPIMS plasma provides opportunities to develop novel and improved materials with unique microstructure and macroscopic properties. HIPIMS processing requires a fundamental understanding of the dynamics in the plasma, on the target and the substrate surface, as well as strong development of the hardware. SVC and the Plasma TAC invite you to discuss and hear about all these topics and more in a special session devoted to the HIPIMS technique. Please plan to attend what should prove to be an engaging and informative technical session devoted to this burgeoning field. For more information on this special session contact the Plasma Processing TAC Chair, Vasgen A. Shamamian, or Arutiun P. Ehiasarian, Sheffield Hallam University (a.ehiasarian@shu.ac.uk).

In order to keep pace with recent developments in both fundamental and applied plasma science associated with the thin film industry, the Plasma Processing TAC invites you to participate in our forum. In addition to the special session, the Plasma Processing TAC is pleased to solicit presentations from corporate, government, and academic laboratories with research in the following technical areas:

• Plasma diagnostics (Langmuir probes, mass spectrometry, residual gas analysis, laser spectroscopy, optical emission/absorption spectroscopy)
• Film growth characterization (infrared spectroscopy, electron spectroscopy)
• Plasma-based deposition platforms (sputter deposition, ion plating, reactive ion etching, and plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition)
• New and innovative plasma sources
• PECVD web coating flexible substrates for barrier, encapsulation, or optical properties
• Novel plasma processing (plasma polymerization, nanostructures, biomaterials)
• Plasma surface chemistry
• Plasma and plasma/surface interface modeling

Other topics of interest such as surface preparation, reactor abatement, environmental, and cost reduction strategies, are also welcome.

Vasgen A. Shamamian, Dow Corning, (v.shamamian@dowcorning.com) is the Plasma Processing TAC Chair. Scott Walton, Naval Research Laboratory (sgwalton@ccs.nrl.navy.mil), and Falk Milde, VON ARDENNE Anlagentechnik GmbH (milde.falk@ardenne-at.de), are the Assistant TAC Chairs.

Vacuum Web Coating

The SVC Vacuum Web Coating Technical Advisory Committee (Web TAC) is soliciting papers for the 2005 TechCon. New for 2005 will be a joint session with the Plasma Processing TAC on “Plasma Processing of Webs,” which has sprung out of considerable interest expressed on this topic at the 2004 TechCon in Dallas. Another joint session will be formed with the Optical Coating, Large Area Coating and Plasma Processing TACs focusing on films for flexible electronics including, but not limited to displays. Other topics that are of special interest to the Web TAC sessions include energy conservation and generation (including work being done on fuel cells), medical applications, and of course new web technologies. Other topics of interest include:

• Barrier films and substrate advances for packaging and optoelectronics
• “Active” packaging
• Materials for web coating (including sources and films)
• Substrate handling, inspection, defect analysis
• Medical and biomedical sensors
• Security: high-security cards and packaging security
• TFT and organic displays
• Inkjet technology in flexible electronics
• Down gauging and process-related savings
• Process control and quality control
• Antireflective, transparent conductive, display films
• Equipment advances
• Recycling
• Competing technologies to vacuum web coating

Peter J. Moulds, Ursa International Corporation (ursaintl@sbcglobal.net), and Charles Bishop, C.A. Bishop Consulting Ltd., (CABishopConsulting@cabuk1.co.uk) are the 2005 Vacuum Web Coating TAC Co-Chairs.

Joint Session: Processes, Materials, and Systems for Flexible Electronics

Joint sessions at the Annual SVC Technical Conference are devoted to the hot topics that represent the most significant advances and trends in recent years that are of interest to a larger portion of the SVC community. Because of significant interest in flexible electronics, this joint session is organized for the fourth consecutive year. In 2005, it will also include the particular aspect of plasma-based technologies that are making their contribution in this area. Again, based on the extreme interest, the number of presentations received, and the large attendance at last year’s Joint Session, the SVC Optical Coating, Vacuum Web Coating, Large Area Coating, and Plasma Processing TACs are pleased to solicit presentations for a joint session on the technologies of:

• Flat panel displays, in particular LCDs, plasma, and OLEDs
• Coatings and films for flexible displays as a whole
• Coatings and films for advancement in flexible electronics
• Security (optically variable) devices, including laser cards
• Energy control coatings
• Plasma-based technologies and processes for flexible electronics
• Metrology of materials and devices for flexible electronics

The Vacuum Web Coating, Optical Coating, Large Area Coating, and Plasma Processing TAC Chairs are inviting all potential contributors to submit a presentation to this session on challenging and fast-advancing subjects.

Peter Moulds, Ursa International (ursaintl@sbcglobal.net), is the Vacuum Web TAC Chair; Ludvik Martinu, École Polytechnique, Montreal (lmartinu@polymtl.ca), is the Optical Coating TAC Chair; Michael Andreasen, VACUUM COATING Technologies, Inc. (michael.andreasen@vact.com), is the Large Area Coating TAC Chair, and Vasgen Shamamian, Dow Corning, (v.shamamian@dowcorning.com, is the Plasma Processing TAC Chair.

Tribological & Decorative Coating

The expression “tribological coating” refers to coatings on parts that move with respect to each other. This includes coatings on machine and engine components as well as tool coatings. In almost all cases, these coatings must be developed for their specific application. In the case of automotive components, high-volume production with high reliability is required in order to be competitive. Tool coating processes are often dominated by the pricing of tool pieces. Decorative coatings must have primarily an esthetic wear-resistant coating function. Tribological coatings have as a primary function the wear protection of the system. However, in decorative coatings the challenges are the shape and/or the base material of the part that requires the coating, as well as the challenge of being competitively priced. For the 2005 SVC TechCon, the Tribological & Decorative TAC is especially interested in presentations that deal with the relationships between coatings and application demands. Coatings of interest range from medical technology, tools, and machine components to highly specialized applications such as gun barrels, copying machines, welding or gluing of parts, extrusion, etc. This session especially welcomes presenters who have been dealing with tribological or corrosive wear problems and where coatings are potential solutions.

Roel Tietema, Hauzer Techno Coating BV (rtietema@hauzer.nl is the Tribological & Decorative Coating TAC Chair. Gary Doll, Timken Research (gary.doll@timken.com) and Andy Korenyi-Both, PVT (a.both@pvtvacuum.de) are the Assistant TAC Chairs.

Optical Coating

New and novel applications in optics, optoelectronics, and photonics, and in the fields of telecommunication, displays, optical data processing, biomedicine, sensors, energy control, automobile, aerospace, and architecture stimulate important developments in physics and technology of optical coatings. In 2005, the SVC Optical Coating Sessions will focus on the latest advances in the areas of new optical film systems and devices, new optical coating materials and film fabrication techniques, optical film metrology, and different advanced applications. Authors are particularly encouraged to submit presentations on optical films that combine optical design with microstructural features tailored on the nanometer and micrometer scales and/or that deal with film properties ranging from optical nonlinearity and engineered band gap to functional characteristics such as mechanical and chemical protection, electrical conductivity, gas and vapor permeability, and others. Evaluation of film stability and integrity in harsh physical and chemical environments, their compatibility with novel substrate materials (including organic polymers), business aspects, experimental designs, and industrial scaleup are important as well. The topics of solicited presentations include but are not limited to:

• New fabrication processes for optical coatings
• Optical filters for telecommunications and new related developments
• Optically selective coatings for energy control (glazings)
• Films for integrated optics and optical MEMS
• Coatings for optical sensors
• Films for micro-optical devices
  
• Thin film optical systems for astronomy
• Films for biomedical, pharmaceutical, and biosensor applications
• Coatings for short wavelengths (UV, VUV, DUV, EUV, X-rays, neutrons)
• Ophthalmic and light assembly applications
• Aerospace thin film devices
• Coatings for laser applications, including laser damage
• Coatings for displays (luminescent and emissive coatings, functional films)
• Metrology of optical films (new instrumentation and approaches)
• Film nucleation and growth mechanisms
• Graded (inhomogeneous) and micro- and nano-structured films
• Photonic band gap materials, photonic devices, and device integration
• Optical and protective coatings on plastics
• Advanced optical and microstructural characterization
• Industrial scaleup
• Photoactive coatings
• Photocatalytic and photorefractive coatings
• Novel porous films for enhancing the refractive index range
• Transparent conductive films for VIS and NIR applications
• New applications of retrofitted deposition systems
• Mechanical properties of optical coatings and their control

The Optical Coating TAC is also pleased to be participating in organizing the Joint Session on Processes, Materials and Systems for Flexible Electronics with the Vacuum Web Coating, Large Area Coating, and Plasma Processing TACs.

Ludvik Martinu, École Polytechnique (lmartinu@polymtl.ca), is the Optical Coating TAC Chair, and George Dobrowolski, National Research Council (dobrowolski@magma.ca), is the Assistant TAC Chair.

Large Area Coating

Large Area Coating will once again host two sessions of presentations relevant to coating large substrates, generally meaning substrates larger than will fit in a typical box coater. Presentations on innovative coatings, processes, materials, and equipment are invited. For the 2005 SVC TechCon, the Large Area TAC is soliciting in particular presentations addressing topics such as:

• Advances in high rate coating processes, target materials, and equipment for sputtering and other large area vacuum coating processes
• Ion beam processes for large area coatings
• New coatings and improvements to current functional coatings such as:
• Temperable and bendable coatings for architectural, automotive, and other applications
• Self-clean and easy-clean coatings (including hydrophobic and hydrophilic)
• Thermal control for architectural, automotive, and other applications
• Antireflection, mirror, conductive, and barrier coatings
• Coatings for solar energy generation
• Coatings for display applications
• What architects want in coatings
• Preparation of glass surfaces for efficient large area coating
• Reverse engineering, online monitoring, and defect analysis of large area coatings
• Improvements in the uniformity, yield, and economics of large area coatings
• Coatings, processes, and equipment for non-glass substrates

The Large Area Coating TAC is also pleased to be participating in organizing the Joint Session on Processes, Materials and Systems for Flexible Electronics with the Optical Coating, Vacuum Web Coating and Plasma Processing TACs.

Michael Andreasen, VACUUM COATING Technologies, Inc. (michael.andreasen@vact.com), is the Large Area Coating TAC Chair, and Johannes Strümpfel, VON ARDENNE Anlagentechnik GmbH (struempfel.johannes@ardenne-at.de), is the Assistant TAC Chair.

Process Control & Instrumentation

In the Process Control & Instrumentation TAC’s session, the focus is on the instrumentation and control techniques used in vacuum coating processes. Innovations and developments used to create new coatings or that improve quality or productivity and reduce cost are of special interest. This session provides a forum for these issues, where you are invited to share your solutions with your colleagues who face the same problems. Experiences from the research lab to the production floor are welcome—any new approaches or improvements in the control of vacuum coating processes.
Previous sessions have included such topics as:

• Computer modeling of sputter equipment to facilitate lower cost tool and process development
• Integrated process control for reactive sputter deposition of dielectric thin films (multiple reactive gases)
• Optical sensor for real-time in situ endpoint monitoring during dry etching of multi-stack layers
• Migration to machine-based control in optical coatings
• Index of refraction measurements for control of thin film density
• Spectroscopic ellipsometry and plasma diagnostic techniques
• Statistical process control
• Comparisons of various pumps in coating applications
• Calibration and operator training in maintaining process quality
• Process regulation in dual magnetron sputtered optical coatings
  
• Cross-contamination in a multicathode system
• Leak detection techniques
• Gas control in reactive sputtering
• Atomic adsorption spectroscopy as a process monitor
• Multipoint crystal sensor monitoring
• Upgrading old process systems
• Overview of sputtering techniques and power supplies

Share recent improvements in your products and/or processes with colleagues; present a paper at the next SVC TechCon.

J. Grant Armstrong, Carberry Technologies (JGrantA@carberrytech.com), and David Chamberlain, MKS Instruments, Inc. (dave_chamberlain@mksinst.com), are the Process Control & Instrumentation TAC Co-Chairs.

Emerging Technologies

The 2005 Emerging Technologies Session will focus on developments of new technologies and on new trends in surface processing and coating.

Presentations are solicited in (but not limited to) the following topics of interest:

• Hybrid technologies
• Cold atmospheric and subatmospheric plasma applications: surface treatment and PECVD
• High-density plasma sources and processes
• Large area PECVD, large area microwave plasma
• Nanotechnology: processing at nanoscale, nanoparticles and nanostructures, nanocomposites, nanopaints, selective nanostructure growth
• Structure, surface and interface engineering: multilayers, dispersed systems, superlattices
• Unconventional structures in hard coatings
• Photocatalytic coatings and devices
• Fuel cell related technologies
• Materials for space applications, energy, data storage, and communications
• Adaptive, self-adjusting, and “smart” elements in technology
• Coatings for biomedical applications
• Physical property engineering: non-equilibrium film structures, self-assembling, and self-healing materials
• Self-organized structures (growth under special conditions)

Presentations from all other areas that bring the most recent approaches in coating and treatment are welcome.

Hana Baránková, Uppsala University (Hana.Barankova@Angstrom.uu.se), and Ladislav Bárdos, Uppsala University (Ladislav.Bardos@Angstrom.uu.se), are the Emerging Technologies TAC Co-Chairs.

Heuréka! Post-Deadline Recent Developments Session
Abstract Submission Guidelines

The “Heuréka!” Session is a very important and prestigious forum for presentations of important late-breaking results at the SVC TechCon. It is a special session enabling authors to present their newest results, developments, discoveries, and stimulating achievements even after the official conference abstract deadline. Because the session is focused on “hot-off-the-press” achievements and new developments delayed due to patenting procedures, strategy reasons, etc., there are no invited papers. All presentations about new ideas, products, developments, and future trends in coating technology, surface engineering, and thin films are welcome. The diversity of the session program helps disseminate new inspiring ideas to the audience for new advances in the coating technology and for future business. As when Archimedes found his basic rule for floating objects in the water and said “HEURÉKA! I have found it!,” new findings and ideas in the coating technology is the basic mission of this session. The “Heuréka!” is an evening session and the number of presentation slots is limited. To be included into the Final Program for the 48th Annual SVC TechCon, the presentation abstract must be submitted no later than March 3, 2005. Join us with your own “Heuréka!”

Hana Baránková, Uppsala University (Hana.Barankova@Angstrom.uu.se), and Ladislav Bárdos, Uppsala University (Ladislav.Bardos@Angstrom.uu.se), are the Heuréka! Session Co-Chairs.

Poster Session
Abstract Submission Guidelines

The SVC Program Committee welcomes poster presentations on subjects of technical interest to attendees at the SVC TechCon.

SVC is offering a $200 cash award to the Best Poster presentation at the TechCon in Denver in 2005. A manuscript is required for review at the TechCon, for the entry to be eligible to receive the award and to be published in the Conference Proceedings. Presenters are expected to be available at their posters to answer questions in the Exhibit Hall on Monday, April 25 from 4:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. One side of an 8ft by 4ft poster board will be available to each presenter for display of text and art describing the work.

Innovators Showcase
Abstract Submission Guidelines

The SVC Innovators Showcase (previously called the Product & Technology Forum or Vendor Session) is an ideal venue to introduce new ideas, processes, products, and services to a focused and sophisticated worldwide audience. Established with an unabashedly commercial foundation, the Showcase allows you to address an audience that is there to hear what you have to say. This approach is particularly effective when the presentation dovetails with your company’s participation in the SVC Exhibit.

Participation by presenters and attendees alike in the Showcase continues to grow dramatically. There is always keen competition for the presentation slots, and a last-minute submission may lead to disappointment.

Presentations can be made on any topic related to the vacuum industry and will be limited to 10 minutes (including questions). An abstract is required for acceptance into the Innovators Showcase. Payment of a registration fee to make a presentation in the Innovators Showcase in 2005 is waived. Manuscripts for the Innovators Showcase will not be published in the Technical Conference Proceedings.

Frank Zimone, Denton Vacuum, LLC (fzimone@dentonvacuum.com), is the Innovators Showcase Chair.