SGL Carbon and the renowned Linköping University inaugurated an advanced coating laboratory including pilot reactor technology for the development of advanced coatings, such as tantalum carbide (TaC), extending SGL Carbons coating footprint. The inauguration on the university campus in Sweden marks a key milestone in their collaboration within the EU-funded “IPCEI on Microelectronics and Communication Technologies” project. Reflecting the project's fast progress from research to application, the first qualification and test parts are now becoming available to customers.
Based on years of extensive research and development, the TaC coating developed through this partnership offers significantly improved precision and coating properties than previous solutions. With this innovation, SGL Carbon is expanding its comprehensive coating portfolio and consolidating its position as a technology leader in this highly specialized market. The TaC coating enables customers, particularly in the semiconductor industry, to enhance component reliability and durability for demanding applications like silicon carbide (SiC) epitaxy and SiC physical vapor transport (PVT) growth.
The partnership combines SGL Carbon's extensive industrial experience with the scientific excellence and research infrastructure in chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of Linköping University. The inauguration ceremony was attended by university representatives as well as executives and technical experts from SGL Carbon.
Andreas Klein, CEO of SGL Carbon: “The inauguration of this laboratory is a pivotal moment. This collaboration allows us to accelerate innovation and directly translate scientific progress into customer value. Our new TaC coating sets a new standard in the coating industry, opening new opportunities for our customers.”
“This collaboration combines applied research with industrial excellence at the highest level,” emphasizes Matts Karlsson, Vice-Rector for R&D at Linköping University. “This laboratory offers our researchers a unique opportunity to work at the forefront of materials science and help shape the technologies of tomorrow.”
The project is part of an “Important Project of Common European Interest” (IPCEI), receiving financial support from the European Union, Germany and the state North Rhine-Westphalia. The project aims to strengthen European technology leadership in microelectronics and communication technologies.
