IP Library Granted Patent US 11,450,516
Granted Patent B2
US 11,450,516 · App. 16/985,998 · Granted Sep 20, 2022

Large-grain tin sputtering target

Inventors: Marc D. Ruggiero (Spokane Valley, WA); Stephane Ferrasse (Spokane, WA); Frank C. Alford (Spokane Valley, WA); Susan D. Strothers (Mead, WA); Patrick K. Underwood (Spokane, WA)
Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
H01J37/3426C23C14/14C23C14/3414H01J37/3423H01J37/3491
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,450,516
App. No.
16/985,998
Granted
Sep 20, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure relates generally to a planar sputtering target. In particular, the present disclosure provides a planar sputtering target comprising a planar sputtering surface and a back surface opposite the planar sputtering surface. The planar sputtering target is formed from a 2N purity tin having an average grain size from at least 10 mm to at most 100 mm. The present disclosure provides a method of manufacturing the tin planar sputtering target having an average grain size from at least 10 mm to at most 100 mm.

Claims (29)

1. A method of manufacturing a planar sputtering target having a planar sputtering surface, and a back surface opposite the planar sputtering surface, wherein the planar sputtering target is formed from tin having a purity of at least 2N and an average grain size from at least 10 mm to at most 100 mm, and a maximum grain size to a mean grain size ratio from 1.9 to 2.4 the method consisting of the steps:

casting molten tin of at least 2N purity;

thermomechanical processing the cast tin to form a thermomechanically processed tin; and

heat treating the thermomechanically processed tin at a temperature of from at least 175° C. to at most 225° C. for a time of from at least 2 hours to at most 48 hours to form the planar sputtering target having the average grain size from at least 10 mm to at most 100 mm, and a maximum grain size to a mean grain size ratio from 1.9 to 2.4.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of casting molten tin includes having a crucible temperature of from about 235° C. to about 350° C. for about one hour followed by pouring the molten tin into a mold to form a near net casting.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the mold is preheated to a temperature of from about 250° C. to about 375° C. for a time of about 30 minutes.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the step of pouring the molten tin into the mold is followed by slow cooling at a rate of 250° C. per hour or less.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the near net casting is sized to a diameter from about 150 mm to about 600 mm and to a thickness from about 20 mm to about 69 mm.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the step of thermomechanically processing the near net casting includes cross-rolling reduction from about 5% to about 15%.

7. The method of claim 2 , wherein the step of thermomechanically processing is performed by a method other than rolling such as forging, extrusion, ECAE/ECAP, torsion, RCS, and variants thereof.

8. The method of claim 2 , wherein the step of heat treating the thermomechanically processed tin is at a temperature of from at about 200° C. for a time of about 4 hours.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of casting molten tin forms a billet followed by slicing the billet to form a plurality of blanks.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the billet is sized to a diameter of about 171 mm (6.75 inches) and to a height of about 457 mm (18 inches).

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of thermomechanically processing the billet includes individually thermomechanically processing the plurality of blanks by cross-rolling reduction by at least 50%.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of thermomechanically processing the billet includes individually thermomechanically processing the plurality of blanks by cross-rolling reduction by at least 60% to at most 80%.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of thermomechanically processing the billet is performed by a method other than rolling such as forging, extrusion, ECAE/ECAP, torsion, RCS, and variants thereof.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of heat treating the thermomechanically processed tin is at a temperature of from at about 200° C. for a time of about 4 hours.

15. A planar sputtering target comprising:

a planar sputtering surface; and,

a back surface opposite the planar sputtering surface;

wherein the planar sputtering target is formed from tin having a purity of at least 2N, an average grain size from at least 10 mm to at most 100 mm, and a maximum grain size to minimum grain size ratio from 3.1 to 7.3.

16. The planar sputtering target of claim 15 , wherein the tin is a high purity tin having an impurity content of at most 15 ppm.

17. The planar sputtering target of claim 15 , wherein the tin is a high purity tin having an alpha count of less than 0.01 cph/cm 2 .

18. A planar sputtering target comprising:

a planar sputtering surface; and,

a back surface opposite the planar sputtering surface;

wherein the planar sputtering target is formed from tin having a purity of at least 2N, an average grain size from at least 10 mm to at most 100 mm, and a grain size standard deviation to mean grain size ratio from 0.3 to 0.6.

19. The planar sputtering target of claim 18 , wherein the tin is a high purity tin having an impurity content of at most 15 ppm.

20. The planar sputtering target of claim 18 , wherein the tin is a high purity tin having an alpha count of less than 0.01 cph/cm 2 .

Assignments (3)
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Apr 13, 2026
From: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
To: SOLSTICE ADVANCED MATERIALS US, INC.
Reel/Frame 074350/0321 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 12, 2026
From: SOLSTICE ADVANCED MATERIALS US, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 074569/0260 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 25, 2021
From: RUGGIERO, MARC D.; FERRASSE, STEPHANE; ALFORD, FRANK C.; STROTHERS, SUSAN D.
To: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
Reel/Frame 057896/0831 →