Slot-Die Coating
Slot-die coating is a highly scalable technique for rapidly depositing thin and uniform films with minimal material waste and low operational cost. Slot-die coating technology is used to deposit a variety of liquid chemistries onto substrates of various materials such as glass, metal, and polymers. This is achieved by precisely metering the process fluid; dispensing it at a controlled rate while the coating die is moved relative to the substrate.
Slot-die-Coater Integration
Optimum system integration has always been one of MBRAUN's strengths. From small laboratory instruments to complex process equipment - MBRAUN will find the right solution for you to integrate your process tool into an inert gas system. Focusing on process stability, optimal ergonomic operation of the equipment and costs in terms of integration and operation, there is a wide range of solutions.
Achieve seamless integration and enhanced functionality with glovebox-integrated slot-die coater systems. Our glovebox integration solutions ensure airtight compatibility, enabling the operation of slot-die coaters within a controlled inert gas environment, whether under nitrogen or argon. Carefully designed during the development phase, our slot die coaters seamlessly fit into MBRAUN gloveboxes, offering a versatile solution for a range of applications.
The integration process is thoughtfully considered, allowing for straightforward incorporation into the glovebox setup. This integration not only maintains the efficiency and precision of slot-die coating processes but also provides a shielded environment, preventing contamination and ensuring optimal performance. With MBRAUN's commitment to excellence in system integration, our glovebox and slot-die coater systems work in harmony, empowering you to achieve precise, contamination-free coatings in a controlled inert gas atmosphere.
Roll-Based FOM nanoRC - Entry Level
Easy to use
The FOM nanoRC is a lightweight, cost-efficient, easy to use, precision instrument for testing slot-die coating of solution-processable material onto flexible substrates.
Replacing spin coating
Based on many years of research in functional organic materials, including feedback from our clients worldwide, the FOM nanoRC has been designed to mimic the coating process of large-scale roll-to-roll machines. The FOM nanoRC enables our clients to produce hundreds of highly complex samples in a matter of hours that can be reproduced at larger scales while using only a fraction of the material required for the same output produced by a spin coater.
Cost-efficient
It provides reliable direct proof of scalability of any coatings conducted but without the high material consumption and associated costs or upstart time, making the FOM nanoRC a much more cost-efficient and reliable tool than current alternatives.
Roll-Based FOM arcRC- Intermediate Level
Compact lab-scale slot-die coating system
Originally designed for OPV and LEC research, the FOM arcRC is ideal for researchers who wish to work with flexible substrates or scale-up from spin coating.
Solution processing
The FOM arcRC allows testing the solution processing of materials with respect to the production of multiple devices, film-forming, and roll-to-toll compatibility. It provides hands-on research coating. Currently, the FOM arcRC is used for perovskite PV, OPV, OLEDs, thin-film sensors, and functional material technologies in general where solution processing is applicable.
Low materials consumption – Easy operation
The FOM arcRC design and small slot-die head volume facilitate much lower materials consumption compared to larger systems. It is the ideal starting point for device processing development. Due to its ability to process numerous devices, the FOM arcRC enables the testing of material film-forming properties or device architecture printability in a fraction of the time compared to spin coating.
Applications
Brochure
Roll-Based FOM sigmaR2R- Advanced Level
Compact R2R slot-die coating system
The FOM sigmaR2R is ideal for scaling up research-related and small production batches that require a thermal step post roll to roll web coating used in among others photovoltaics, optical coatings, batteries, fuel cells, and pharma related applications.
Coating & printing methods
The FOM sigmaR2R with optional continuous pumping of ink/slurry capabilities, facilitates the integration of multiple coating and printing methods into the machine frame, for example, slot-die coating and flexographic printing. Designed to handle a wide range of substrates it is currently running with carbon fiber tows, multiple plastics, paper, metal foils, and flexible glass.
Easy operation
To accommodate the needs of the operator the FOM sigmaR2R allows for a facile experimental set-up with a user-friendly software with remote service support as well as maintenance supervision.
Roll-Based FOM moduloR2C- Advanced Level
Designed for experimental research
The FOM moduloR2C addresses the challenges associated with roll-to-roll equipment in R&D environments. Industrial roll-to-roll equipment often lacks the necessary freedom to experiment, adapt and data collect as is common in research.
Easy operation
To accommodate the flow of the research process the FOM moduloR2C provides a flexible system that allows facile experimental set-up, data collection, and operation.
Modular built
The modular-built FOM moduloR2C is fitted with all-around web access for easy maintenance and constant monitoring of the printed web. Furthermore, the FOM moduloR2C enables custom configuration and positioning of the coating, printing, and drying units ideal for R&D. Upon request, the FOM moduloR2C is Atex-compatible with certification.
Digital control and data collection
The coater is based on a digitally controlled platform and provides process control and complete process data logging with export functions to enable researchers to analyze this data.
Data management
Automated documentation is key to handle large data volumes. The complete coating conditions are automatically logged by the control software and can also be printed alongside the coated area by a synchronized barcode printer/reader.
Coating & printing methods
The FOM moduloR2C facilitates the integration of multiple coating and printing methods into the machine frame, for example, slot-die coating and flexographic, inkjet, or rotary screen printing. In principle, any deposition method can be integrated. Designed to handle a wide range of substrates it is currently running with carbon fiber tows, multiple plastics, paper, metal foils, and flexible glass.
Inbuilt industrial reconfiguration
The FOM moduloR2C is capable of industrial production speed. Based on a new PLC platform the machine is Industry 4.0 ready. This allows facile reconfiguration for industrial production once your research is ready for technology transfer to a pilot or commercial phase.
Sheet-Based FOM scalarSC - Entry Level
Robust slot-die sheet coating system
The system is designed for the fast-and-easy coating of functional materials in laboratories aiming for multi-user high throughput research on topics such as organic and perovskite electronics, sensors and energy storage.
Step up from spin coating
Whether you are doing fundamental research or developing a new process for your product, the FOM scalar is the perfect next step from spin coating toward medium-scale, industry-relevant processing where rigid and/or flexible substrates are required. It offers a compact setup that can be easily installed inside a laminar flow hood or a glovebox. Additionally, the external syringe pump will allow a better design of your workspace.
Simple handling and alignment
Both flexible and rigid substrates of up to 300×200 mm in size can be freely positioned on the high-flatness aluminium-made sample holder. The Infinite-step height and lateral position manual dial will allow for systematic, quick-reaction experimental runs and systematic studies where the operator has full control at all times.
Sheet-Based FOM vectorSC - Inermediate Level
Robust slot-die sheet coating system
The system was designed for fast and easy coating of functional materials in laboratories working to develop novel materials, test device structures, and process devices for performance testing. It is intended for solution-processed thin-film coatings of functional materials, for example, related to solar (OPV, perovskites, CIGS), lighting, sensing, and energy storage applications.
Step up from spin coating
The coater is the appropriate next step from spin coating towards medium-scale processing where rigid substrates are required. It offers a compact setup easily positionable in a fume hood. The supplied syringe pump and specially designed slot-die heads allow you to precisely control your wet-film thickness and keep material consumption to a minimum.
Simple handling and alignment
Both flexible and rigid substrates up to 300×200 mm can be freely positioned on the sample holder and secured by activating the vacuum suction. The across-coating registration of subsequent layers is easily set by the adjustment of the lateral position of the slot-die head. Together with high accuracy metapor composite heated chuck, this provides robust, flexible, and repeatable construction of your device architecture.
Sheet-Based FOM alphaSC- Advanced Level
Design
Comprehensive user interface allows experimental freedom in the formulation of coating recipes. Integration of primary coating elements allows for high reproducibility between each coating run and high comparability between coated devices as well as optimal production batch quality. The slot-die bridge is built with attention to precision mounting and easy positioning of slot-die head over substrate mounts on a rigid and vibration damping base. The vacuum chuck travels on a precision rail system and in combination with the attention to detail this system provides a versatile and robust tool for upscaling.
Mechanics
The system comes with a choice of manual or automatic positioning of the slot-die and manual or the motorized programmed height and side shift adjustment with a resolution of 1µm. Coating speed between 0.05 to 5.0 m/min (step-less). Parallelism setting and slot-die lip straightness <1% provides precise material deposition. Cross and along with web positioning to <100µm. slot-die height (the coating gap) allows repeatable mounting providing repeatable batch processing from day-to-day. Drying – Metapor (TM) Vacuum chuck with a size range of A4 and up. Flatness from better than 20µm. Heating to 150°C, uniform across the surface to <1°C.
Easy to repetition and user recipes
The system facilitates the easy execution of repeated precision coatings in a controllable, easily predictable manner, giving the researcher an insight into the variables of the coating process.
Roll-Based FOM pontemSC- Industrial Level
High precision automated S2S coating system
The FOM pontumSC provides an automated slot-die sheet coating system for high-end applications requiring high precision control of coating in repeated sheetfed steps.
Fully integrated system control
The FOM pontumSC comes with a fully integrated system control of the slot-die head, pumps, and substrate stage movement. XY-stages allow for precise slot-die head and substrate positioning, while the Z-stage is optimized for ultra-smooth coating motion. An inline sheet feeding system allows for multiple consecutive coatings.
Easy repetition and use of recipes
The system facilitates the easy execution of repeated precision coatings in a controllable, easily predictable manner, giving a high yield in each production run.
FOM industrial S2S coating capabilities
The FOM Industrial S2S coater is a high-end sheet coater for precision slot-die coating. It services the demand for industrial-grade repeatability and accuracy through a fully-automated slot-die sheet coating system with an automated sheet feeding system, controlled drying, and recipe control software that sensures high precision control of coating and exact repeatability between devices. Simply execute and repeat for multiple layers or samples again and again. Designed for rigid substrates of areas of up to 1m x 650mm coater area the FOM pontumSC can handle most pilot-scale large area printed electronics ambitions with its high precision automated coating system.
Slot-Die Heads - Research Series
FOM Technologies research series slot-die heads are a piece of state-of-the-art coating equipment. Each coating head has been designed to fulfill the need for professional slot-die coating components. Produced from some of the hardest steel in the world, the material undergoes meticulous processes to provide stable and ultra-precise accuracy. After many years of innovation, FOM provide coating equipment with very low dead-volume, elegant change of coating width within defined ranges. The steel surfaces are specially treated to resist most chemicals and constructed for an easy clean to prolong the durability and lifetime of the product.
Applications
Brochure
Slot-Die Heads - Industrial Series
FOM Technologies industrial series slot-die heads are state-of-the-art coating equipment. Each coating head can be designed to fulfill special needs of width and viscosity. Produced from some of the hardest steel in the world, the material undergoes meticulous processes to provide stable and ultra-precise accuracy. After many years of innovation, FOM provide coating equipment with very low dead-volume, elegant change of coating width within defined ranges. The steel surfaces are specially treated to resist most chemicals and constructed for an easy clean to prolong the durability and lifetime of the product.
