Process for the manufacturing of a sputter target

1. A process for manufacturing a sputter target, said process comprising the steps of:

providing a target holder;

applying an intermediate layer comprising at least one component on said target holder;

applying a top layer on top of said intermediate layer, said top layer comprising a material having a melting point which is substantially higher than the melting point of said intermediate layer;

heating the target holder coated with said intermediate layer and said top layer to a temperature which is equal to or higher than the melting point of the at least one component of the intermediate layer; and

removing the top layer.

2. A process for manufacturing a sputter target, said process comprising the steps of:

providing a target holder;

applying an intermediate layer on said target holder;

applying a top layer on top of said intermediate layer, said top layer comprising a material having a melting point which is substantially higher than the melting point of said intermediate layer; and

heating the target holder coated with said intermediate layer and said top layer,

wherein said process further comprises the step of applying a release layer between said intermediate layer and said top layer.

3. A process according to claim 1 , wherein said target holder is a plate.

4. A process according to claim 1 , wherein said target holder is a tube.

5. A process according to claim 4 , wherein said target holder is a stainless steel tube.

6. A process according to claim 1 , wherein said intermediate layer comprises a metal, a metal alloy or a metal oxide.

7. A process according to claim 1 , wherein said intermediate layer is applied by spraying or dipping.

8. A process according to claim 1 , wherein said intermediate layer is applied by coiling at least one wire, strip or foil around said target holder or by applying segments on said target holder.

9. A process according to claim 1 , wherein said intermediate layer comprises sprayed zinc or a sprayed zinc alloy.

10. A process according to claim 1 , wherein said material of the top layer comprises a metal, a metal alloy or a metal oxide.

11. A process according to claim 1 , wherein said top layer is applied by spraying or dipping.

12. A process according to claim 1 ,

wherein said top layer is a stainless steel layer which is sprayed on top of the intermediate layer.

13. A process according to claim 2 , wherein said release layer comprises a metal oxide.

14. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the heating comprises heating to a temperature that allows diffusion between two or more components of the intermediate layer.

15. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the heating comprises induction heating.

16. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the heating comprises heating the target holder coated with said intermediate layer and said top layer such that the at least one component of the intermediate layer is melted and the top layer holds the intermediate layer so as to prevent any portion of the intermediate layer from flowing away from the target holder when the at least one component of the intermediate layer is melted.

17. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the heating comprises heating to a temperature which is equal to or higher than the melting point of the at least one component of the intermediate layer but is less than a melting point of the top layer.

18. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the heating comprises heating to a temperature such that the at least one component of the intermediate layer is melted but the top layer remains solid.

19. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the intermediate layer remains on the target holder after the top layer is removed.

20. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the step of applying the top layer on top of the intermediate layer comprises applying the top layer directly on top of the intermediate layer.