Category Archive: Blogs

Admat Relocates to New Larger Office Near Valley Forge National Park

Admat Inc is pleased to announce the relocation of their corporate office and distribution center. The new headquarters merges both the Wayne, PA office and the Reading, PA sales office into one more functional location. Furthermore, because of the significant increase in warehousing space, our customers will benefit from reduced lead times. This new location is in Pinebrook Business Center, just a short drive from Philadelphia and neighbors Rockwell Automation.

Admat Announces New Tantalum 7.5% Tungsten Wire Products

Admat Inc, has announced an expanded Tantalum portfolio today with the addition of Tantalum 7.5% Tungsten wire. This particular alloy is designed for used in chlorination systems for water purification. Our customers will fabricate the wire into various size springs which will open and close valves feeding chlorine gas. This particular alloy is well suited to handle the corrosive nature of chlorine. But only Admat’s production process ensures the ideal mechanical properties to prevent failure, even after millions of cycles.

Admat Inc. Introduces Tungsten 10% Titanium To Their Thin Films Product Line

Admat Inc. announced today the addition of Tungsten 10% Titanium sputtering targets to their growing thin films product line. These new targets are available in the standard purity of 4N and higher purities of 4N5 and 5N upon special request. Production capabilities allow for various shapes and sizes of up to 300mm diameter or 230mm square.

Hongju Chang, Ph.D., Admat’s C.E.O., stated “This is an exciting new product which further compliments our existing line of solar and semiconductor products”. The company’s Sales Director, Eric von Spreckelsen further added, “The introduction of Tungsten 10% Titanium to our portfolio takes Admat one step closer to our goal of performing as a single source refractory supplier to the semiconductor marketplace”. These targets are shipped with full factory certifications, including GDMS chemistry results.

For additional information, contact Admat today!

Admat Tantalum is an Essential Part of Making Your Drinking Water Safe

Water purification is the process in which the unwanted chemicals, bacteria, viruses and particles are removed from contaminated water. In most cases the purpose is to create safe water for human consumption. Therefore chlorine gas is commonly introduced to the water to kill the bacteria and viruses prior to reaching its final point of use.

Chlorine gas is introduced to the water using a spring controlled valve which opens and closes on regular intervals. These intervals are often determined by sensors in the water. During operation the spring is exposed to the corrosive chlorine. Where most metals would fail, Tantalum 7.5% Tungsten is ideal for this job. Admat’s metal ensures proper function of the valve and is proven not to contribute to failures where people could be

 

exposed to poisonous chlorine gas.

Because Admat’s Tantalum 7.5% Tungsten wire has the perfect combination of corrosion resistance and mechanical properties, it is the best and safest choice for chlorine valve control springs. Admat is the largest supplier of Ta7.5W wire in the world. Our product chemistry and microstructure are specifically engineered for this application. Most other TaW spring wire suppliers use cheaper alternatives which could cause premature failure.

Admat’s customers are the most qualified spring manufacturers in the United States. When your application is as important as keeping people healthy, and a spring failure may cause a catastrophic chlorine gas leak, why take risks.

Contact Admat for the names of the best spring makers in the country or ask your current spring supplier to use Admat Premium Grade Ta7.5W Spring Wire.

 

Are You Buying the Right Metal?

No other supplier of Tantalum and Niobium is more interested in saving you money and providing the right product for your application. Founded in 1997, Admat’s management team has over 50 years of experience with refractory metals. To us, it’s not good enough to sell you metal, it’s our job to sell you the proper metal and to maximize the cost savings for your business.

Did you know that tantalum is available in multiple specifications. The two most common are electron beam melted tantalum which is cast into ingots and then rolled to finished form, and the other is a powder derived tantalum which is sintered powder rolled into sheet or wire. Additionally draw grade tantalum sheet has a finer grain for stamping applications of deeper drawn parts. Each type of tantalum is suited for different applications. Furthermore did you know that Admat’s metals come in a variety of purities. These include purities from 99.5% pure to 99.999%. Your required purity depends on your application. Are you lining a tank, making a penetrator for a missile, stamping a capacitor shell, or sputtering tantalum onto PC memory chips?

Tantalum, Niobium, Tungsten and Molybdenum can easily become very expensive purchases. Let us know your application and we will quote you the proper material.

Ensure that you are getting the best alloy and form for your money by calling Admat today!

What Are Sputtering Targets Used For?

First discovered in 1852 and developed as a thin film deposition technique in 1920, sputtering targets are a physical vapor deposition mechanism—an old process, but with many uses in modern technology and manufacturing. The process starts by feeding a substrate (or other item to be coated) into a vacuum chamber containing two magnets. After introducing a controlled gas (such as argon) into the chamber, powerful magnets pull atoms from the substrate.

These atoms then proceed to collide with each other in their gaseous state before condensing into a plasma that dries into a thin film on the substrate. The final product is a thin but durable coating valid across a variety of applications.

Applications

Many products commonly used today have a coating created through sputtering targets. These coatings include:

  • Semiconductors

Most modern day electronics incorporate essential components which have been produced with tantalum sputtering targets. These include microchips, memory chips, print heads, flat panel displays as well as others.

  • Glass Coating

Sputtering targets are used to produce low-radiation coated glass – also known as Low-E glass – which is commonly used in building construction because of its ability to save energy, control light, and for aesthetics.

  • Solar Cell Coating

Demands for renewable energy are on the rise. Third generation, thin-film solar cells are prepared using sputter coating technology.

Available Materials from Admat

These versatile coatings each have different applications for which they are best suited. At Admat, we offer an expansive selection of material, our most common including:

  • Tantalum

Used as a barrier layer on silicon wafers for semiconductor production, tantalum is used in all modern electronics. Cell phones, DVD and Blu-ray players, laptops, automobile electronics and even gaming consoles contain tantalum.

  • Niobium

Commonly used in electronics, niobium has similar properties to tantalum. Niobium is corrosion resistant due to its oxide film and is a considered a superconductor.

  • Titanium

Found in a wide variety of conventional products including watches, laptops, and bicycles, titanium is lightweight and corrosion resistant. This material is often used for wear-resistance and aesthetic design, but may also be used for semiconductors and optical coatings.

  • Tungsten

Tungsten thin films are a decorative coating widely used for their thermal, physical, and mechanical properties such as a high melting point and thermal conductivity.

  • Molybdenum

Having a lower density and consistent pricing, this element can be used in place of tungsten and is commonly used to coat solar panel cells.

  • Hafnium

Hafnium films are frequently used as an insulator for semiconductors, as well as for surface hardness and protection. As an element with a high dielectric constant, it may improve the performance of some electronics.

  • Silicon

This target material is most generally used in the production of silicon solar cells.

Learn More from Admat

Sputtering is a perfect way for many manufacturers to add durability and functionality to substrates and parts in a variety of applications. Contact Admat today to find out how we can assist you in selecting the appropriate materials for your coating and fabrication needs.