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Overview

Notched Boats isolate the “hot zone” to the area between the notches. Choose a heater shape that best matches the substrate’s area requirements and the characteristics or form of material you plan to heat. When heating the same material multiple times, these boat heaters are sometimes satisfactory for more than a single-time use.

Notched Boats

Notched Boats

#425MO: Molybdenum, 2.11 Volt, 123 Amps, 260 Watts, 1400°C
#426TA: Tantalum, 4.50 Volt, 138 Amps, 621 Watts, 1600°C
#427W: Tungsten, 3.26 Volt, 144 Amps, 469 Watts, 1800°C
#428MO: Molybdenum, 1.47 Volt, 184 Amps, 270 Watts, 1400°C
#429TA: Tantalum, 2.87 Volt, 198 Amps, 568 Watts, 1600°C
#430W: Tungsten, 3.28 Volt, 300 Amps, 984 Watts, 1800°C

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Notched Boats

#431MO: Molybdenum, 1.54 Volt, 122 Amps, 188 Watts, 1400°C
#432TA: Tantalum, 2.94 Volt, 150 Amps, 441 Watts, 1600°C
#433W: Tungsten, 3.32 Volt, 198 Amps, 657 Watts, 1800°C
#434MO: Molybdenum, 1.09 Volt, 190 Amps, 207 Watts, 1400°C
#435W: Tungsten, 2.55 Volt, 283 Amps, 722 Watts, 1800°C

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Frequently Asked Questions

Boat sources are typically made from high-purity tungsten, tantalum, or molybdenum due to their high melting points, low vapor pressures, and durability under high thermal loads. In some cases, an alumina coating is applied to prevent wetting or alloying with the evaporant.

Metal powders are widely used in industries such as automotive (for brake pads and engine components), aerospace, electronics, batteries, capacitors, magnetic materials, and tooling.

Unlike crucibles that often use a separate heater and may provide larger volumes for thick films, boat sources integrate the heating element with the evaporant container. Boats are especially suitable for upward evaporation and offer faster heating and more controlled deposition for thinner films.

Key considerations include the type of evaporant material, boat material compatibility, required evaporation rate, power supply (voltage and current demands), boat geometry (such as dimpled or trough designs), and whether corrosion or wetting issues need to be minimized via coatings.

 

Alumina coatings on boat sources help prevent the molten evaporant from “wetting” the entire source, which can lead to non-uniform deposition and early failure. The inert alumina layer minimizes chemical reactions and migration of the material, leading to improved film uniformity and extended boat life.

The evaporation rate is primarily controlled by adjusting the electrical current supplied to the boat. The increased current raises the boat’s temperature, which in turn increases the vapor pressure of the evaporant. Fine tuning the current allows precise control over the film thickness and deposition rate.

Common challenges include material wetting or creeping (which can lead to contamination and loss of material), alloying between the evaporant and boat material (especially for reactive metals), and the need for high power input. Proper design and coating strategies are critical to mitigate these issues.

 

Boat sources come in various designs—such as dimpled, trough, or flat configurations—to optimize the hot zone where the material melts. Some designs include isolated hot zones or directional features to control evaporation patterns and improve film uniformity.

 

Yes. Boat sources are versatile and can be used to evaporate many metals, alloys, and even some compound materials. However, material-specific considerations (e.g., reactivity and melting point) may require selecting a particular boat material or applying an alumina coating to ensure successful deposition.

 

To extend the life of a boat source, it’s important to operate within its specified power range, avoid overfilling with evaporant, and use proper cooling periods between runs. Regular inspection for signs of wear or contamination and replacing boats when necessary are also key practices.

 

The geometry of the boat (e.g., whether it’s dimpled or has a trough design) influences the distribution of heat and the vapor flux. A well-designed boat source provides a concentrated hot zone that promotes a uniform evaporation rate, leading to more even thin film deposition on the substrate.

 

If a boat source fails, check for issues such as excessive wetting or alloying of the evaporant with the boat material, incorrect power settings, or overfilling. Adjusting the current, using an alumina-coated boat, or selecting an alternative material may resolve the problem.

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