Description
High purity aluminum pellets and slugs are precision-manufactured cylindrical evaporation sources designed for thermal evaporation, electron-beam evaporation, and other vacuum deposition processes. These sources are produced by electrode cutting of high-purity aluminum rod to create consistent, identical cylindrical geometries that deliver stable melt behavior, reproducible deposition rates, and minimal particulates — critical requirements for thin-film coating and vacuum deposition applications.
Manufacturing & Quality Process
After precision cutting, the pellets and slugs undergo a thorough cleaning process to ensure surface cleanliness and minimize oxidation. The material is first cleaned in a dilute hydrofluoric acid (HF) solution (~2%) to remove surface oxides and contaminants, followed by multiple rinses with deionized (DI) water. The pellets and slugs are then dried under controlled conditions and packaged to maintain cleanliness and minimize re-oxidation prior to use. This process ensures consistent surface quality and reliable performance during evaporation.
Standard Sizes
We maintain strong inventory in the following standard cylindrical sizes:
• 3 mm diameter × 3 mm length (primary stock)
• 3 mm diameter × 6 mm length
• 6 mm diameter × 6 mm length (primary stock)
• 10 mm diameter × 10 mm length (limited stock available)
Smaller sizes (3 × 3 mm and 3 × 6 mm) are particularly well suited for thermal evaporation due to higher surface-to-volume ratio. Larger sizes (6 × 6 mm and 10 × 10 mm) offer greater thermal mass and are preferred for electron-beam evaporation where stable melt pools under high power density are required.
Granules / Shot for Large Commercial Orders
For large-volume commercial applications that do not require consistent sizing or ultra-high purity, we offer 4N (99.99%) aluminum granules/shot, typically sized approximately 0.25" × 0.375" (6 mm × 9 mm). These irregular shapes are more cost-effective for high-volume needs but are generally not recommended for thin-film deposition or other precision vacuum processes due to variable melt behavior and increased potential for particulates.
Typical Applications
• Semiconductor thin-film metallization
• Optical coatings (anti-reflection, mirrors, filters)
• Solar cell metallization and contacts
• OLED, display, and thin-film electronics manufacturing
• Quantum device fabrication and superconducting thin films
• University, national laboratory, and research vacuum deposition systems
• Electron-beam and thermal evaporation processes requiring high repeatability
Purity & Documentation
Available in purities from 4N (99.99%) to 6N+ (including 6N5 MBE grade). Every shipment includes a GDMS (Glow Discharge Mass Spectrometry) Certificate of Analysis documenting metallic impurity levels.
Availability & Customization
Most standard pellet/slug sizes ship within 1–2 business days. Custom sizes, lengths, and alloy compositions are available upon request to support specialized deposition processes and research requirements.
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