Technical Publications

Use our data to compare and select the right coating for your application.

January 10, 2024

Specialty Coatings to Reduce Corrosion in Scrubber Components

Scrubbers play an essential role in the safe manufacturing of semiconductor devices. However, metal parts degrade very quickly in the highly corrosive scrubber environment, and this poses an environmental and safety challenge. In this paper, we present data for specialty coatings that significantly reduce the corrosion rate of metal scrubber parts. The benefits are a reduction of heavy metals in the waste stream, a minimized exposure of employees to the corroded parts, a solidwaste reduction, and a lower cost in part replacements. In short, the quality of the semiconductor process is improved, and the cost reduced.

November 01, 2023

Breakthroughs in Material Compatibility of Inert Coatings for Sampling and Analytical Systems

In a presentation given at the Gulf Coast Conference 2023, Clay Smith emphasizes the importance of inert coatings in sampling and analytical systems, particularly as samples become more complex and detection limits need to be lowered. Clay's presentation highlights the significance of coatings like SilcoNert in ensuring the reliability and accuracy of analytical systems, especially in the context of evolving technical and regulatory needs.

October 27, 2023

Introducing Siltride: A SilcoTek Webinar Event

This presentation explains how and why Siltride CVD technology was developed, what makes Siltride different and the data explaining how it could solve your surface problems, and how our customers are reacting to their success with Siltride, including a case study with Samsung.

August 09, 2023

Issues with Metals in Nucleotide Based Pharmaceutical Production

Nucleotide-based pharmaceuticals are a relatively new, but rapidly growing therapeutic modality. Metals and metal ions can interact with nucleotide-based therapeutics in a variety of negative ways. Eliminating these negative interactions can be accomplished by coating the stainless steel commonly used in both production and purification equipment for these molecules. This TI will discuss a brief history and background of nucleotide therapeutics, how metals can negatively impact their production, and how Dursan can help alleviate these issues.

June 14, 2023

Illustrating Coating Thickness

This technical insight provides an overview of SilcoTek's coating processes, emphasizing the unique nature of the Notak surface modification. While traditional coatings have measurable thickness, Notak binds molecules to the substrate surface, forming an ultra-thin layer that is challenging to measure. By comparing the thickness of Notak, CVD coatings, and a human hair, the document highlights the dramatic difference in scale. Despite its minute thickness, Notak's molecular-level modification has a significant impact on surface properties, while SilcoTek's thinner coatings have proven transformative for customer parts, showcasing the intriguing and powerful potential of surface science.

May 31, 2023

Electrostatic Safety Test of Dursan Coating

SilcoTek's Dursan coating underwent an electrostatic safety test by Dekra Testing. No discharge or charge transfer was observed, confirming its safety according to IEC standards. The coating is considered electrostatically safe on metallic substrates with the specified thickness.

April 11, 2023

How Porous Are Our Coatings?

SilcoTek® offers coatings for a variety of industries and an even wider variety of applications. We often are asked “how porous are your coatings?” The short answer is “they are not porous”, but the long answer will be described here.

March 13, 2023

Inertness comparison of electropolished and non-electropolished 316 surfaces with coated and non-coated variants

This TI compares the chemical inertness of electropolished (EP) stainless steel tubing without coating to SilcoNert 2000-coated, non-electropolished tubing using gas chromatography. SilcoNert 2000-coated stainless steel tubing significantly outperforms uncoated electropolished tubing for analyzing low levels of sulfur compounds and was equally as inert as the SilcoNert 2000-coated EP surface.

February 21, 2023

Pin-on-disk Test Results of SilcoTek Coatings

This TI reports the results of pin-on-disk wear tests of five SilcoTek® coatings: Silcolloy® 1000, Dursan®, SiltrideSM, RD13 and RD14, along with uncoated control samples. Results from twosets of test conditions were reported, and samples were analyzed with profilometry, SEM and EDS techniques to obtain wear track volumes and coating integrity information afterwear. The tested coatings were ranked in terms of wear performance based on the analysis results.

December 13, 2022

Dursan’s Successful Integration Into a Customized Mold System

The aim of this paper was to develop a mass-production capable and cost effective manufacturing process for polymer films with multifunctional surfaces. This TI is an executive summary of a proceeding from euspen’s 22nd International Conference & Exhibition held in Geneva in May and June of 2022.

November 09, 2022

Protection Against Metal Ion Leaching due to Organic Solvent Exposure

The complete listing of our metal ion leaching series.

August 31, 2022

Spacecraft Atmosphere Monitor (S.A.M.): SilcoTek® helping humans get to the moon again

The Spacecraft Atmosphere Monitor (S.A.M.) system is designed to monitor the atmosphere within the spacecraft to ensure the astronauts are not breathing harmful chemical compounds. This TI walks through the system’s past, present, and future with SilcoTek.

August 10, 2022

What's the Advantage of Preheating my Stainless Steel Parts for Coating Service?

SilcoTek® recommends customers who use coated stainless-steel parts in high temperature applications (over 450°C) to preheat the parts prior to sending them in for coating. This recommendation was based primarily on the knowledge of metal sensitization but lacked actual data support. This technical insight provides experimental data to show when and how preheating before coating may benefit high temperature applications.

August 05, 2022

Coating Parts with Silver Plating

This paper discusses the compatibility of silver plating with the SilcoNert® coating process.

July 18, 2022

Coating Properties Quick Reference Guide

A review of the properties and performance of our coatings. Compare and select the right coating for your application.

July 18, 2022

Introductory Presentation, SilcoTek® 101

Read our introductory presentation and learn about our CVD coating process and how our coatings can benefit your products and process.

July 18, 2022

How to Remove Rust From Stainless Steel

Surface preparation is an important factor in providing a durable, long lasting coating. Learn how to prepare stainless steel surfaces by removing rust contamination.

July 13, 2022

Silicon Coatings for Semiconductor and Electronics Manufacturing

Learn how high purity silicon coatings can improve corrosion resistance and prevent contamination in semiconductor and electronics manufacturing.

July 13, 2022

Coatings for Enhanced Heat Exchanger and Filtration E-book

Download the Heat Exchanger and Filtration e-book to learn how coatings can improve system fouling and corrosion resistance.

July 13, 2022

SilcoTek® Coating Properties E-Book

A comprehensive analysis of coating characteristics and properties.

July 13, 2022

Medical Application E-book

Learn how to achieve better bioanalytical results with SilcoTek® coatings. Our coatings e-book will discuss how Dursan® and other CVD coatings improve material performance and how inert coatings are ideal for bioanalytical and medical diagnostic applications.

July 13, 2022

Troubleshooting and Protecting the Sampling System

Get our tips and strategies for solving industrial sampling problems. Learn how to solve sample cylinder inertness problems and sample transfer problems while improving sample transfer reliability in process and analytical systems.

July 13, 2022

Managing Challenging Sampling Environments

Learn how to sample and test successfully in challenging environments. Manage moisture, corrosion and reactive compounds with inert coatings for your instrumentation and sampling systems while getting reliable and accurate results.

June 22, 2022

High Purity Coatings from Science to Performance

Learn how SilcoTek® high purity coatings can improve the performance of your products and process. Get coating performance data and see how our high purity silicon coatings improve stainless steel surfaces.

June 22, 2022

SilcoTek® Technology Designing Surfaces for Performance

Learn about our coatings, our technology, and applications.

June 22, 2022

Improved Vacuum System Throughput, Inertness, and Corrosion Resistance

See how SilcoTek® Coatings improve vacuum pump down performance, reduce outgassing, improve hydrophobicity and corrosion resistance of vacuum and UHV components.

June 21, 2022

Amorphous Silicon Coatings for Control of Corrosion and Metal Ion Contamination

Learn how silicon coatings benefit semiconductor manufacturing by improving corrosion resistance and reducing metal ion contamination.

June 21, 2022

Inert CVD Coatings for Analytical Applications

A review of coating applications in analytical chemistry, environmental sampling, process analytical, HPLC, and refinery monitoring.

June 21, 2022

Review of Coatings Used to Improve Reliability and Accuracy of Mercury and Sulfur Sampling Systems

This presentation discusses how SilcoNert® and Dursan® improve sampling reliability and accuracy for mercury, sulfur, and ammonia testing.

June 08, 2022

Improve Reliability and Accuracy of Sulfur, Mercury and NOx Sampling and Analysis Equipment

A review of how silicon coating improve the reliability and accuracy of sampling systems used in sulfur, mercury, NOx, and ammonia testing in exhaust, CEMS, and flare gas streams.

June 08, 2022

An Introduction To SilcoTek®, Our Coatings, and Benefits

A review of SilcoTek® and our coatings, applications, and benefits.

June 08, 2022

SilcoTek®Corrosion Resistant CVD Coatings

Get corrosion resistance data on a wide range of coatings and materials. See how SilcoTek® coatings can improve the corrosion resistance of your products by 10x or more.

June 08, 2022

An Introduction to Inert Coatings

Learn how to ensure your sampling system always delivers maximum reliability. This e-book contains tips on how to improve product performance with inert coatings and how to improve surface performance over passivation.

June 08, 2022

Keys to a High-Performance Analytical System

This e-book features tips about how to improve your analytical sampling system. The e-book features signs your analytical system is not performing optimally and how to tell if a flow path is inert (and why it matters).

June 08, 2022

SilcoTek® 101

A comprehensive overview of SilcoTek® and its patented CVD coating process. Questions about how we can improve the performance of parts? What markets we serve? Ideal applications for using our coatings? This e-book answers your questions.

April 27, 2022

Biomass Waste to Jet Fuels: How Dursan® Assists in Making New Sustainable Fuels

This Technical Insight will explore a recent publication that investigates kinetics and reactor design for the ketonization process and where Dursan® can aid in better conversion rates.

April 27, 2022

Technical Insight: Dursan®’s Use in the Food and Beverage Industry: A Walk Through of the Beer Brewing Process

In this Technical Insight we will focus on what a coating could potentially do in the food and beverage industry if metal ions can be blocked from entering the product.

April 27, 2022

Technical Insight: Dursan® Process Achieves USP Class VI Certification

This Technical Insight will discuss the details of this test, and the results of an investigation into samples that were coated with Dursan® and subjected to Class VI testing.

April 27, 2022

Technical Insight: Protein Resistant Properties of Dursan®

The authors of this paper examined Dursan® as an alternative coating solution to minimize protein binding and surface adsorption.

April 27, 2022

Use of Inert CVD Coating for Protein, Corrosion, and Moisture Resistance in Bioanalysis Applications

This paper will introduce Dursan® [1, 2], a siliconoxygen-carbon (carboxysilicon) coating that provides biochemical inertness, a low affinity for adsorbing proteins and other bio-molecules, corrosion resistance, and low energy properties to stainless steel and other substrates.

April 27, 2022

Presentation: Low Outgassing of Silicon-Based Coatings on Stainless Steel Surfaces for Vacuum Applications

This presentation compares the pump down rate of coated and uncoated UHV chambers.

April 27, 2022

Coating for Corrosion & Metal Ion Contamination

This paper discusses how SilcoTek® silicon barrier coatings protect against corrosion in high purity applications.

April 27, 2022

Presentation: High Vacuum Applications of Silicon-Based Coatings on Stainless Steel

This presentation compares the outgassing rate and pump down of coated and uncoated stainless steel UHV chambers.

April 27, 2022

Penn State Multi-Discipline Tribology Group and Energy Institute Studies

This study discusses the impact of coatings and various fuels have on carbon fouling and soot formation in various test engines.

April 27, 2022

Presentation: High Heat Sink Fuels Program

This presentation discusses how SilcoTek® coatings help to minimize carbon fouling under test conditions of JP-8 fuels.

April 27, 2022

Deposition from High Temperature Jet Fuels

This paper explores mitigating thermal stability problems, where a single-tube heat exchanger is used to assess thermal-oxidative and pyrolytic deposition from high temperature jet fuels.

April 27, 2022

Analysis of Solid Deposits from Thermal Stressing of a JP-8 Fuel on Different Surfaces in a Flow Reactor

This paper discusses how SilcoTek® coatings perform under carbon fouling conditions.

April 27, 2022

Impact of Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) on SilcoTek®'s Coating Properties

This Technical Insight will discuss details of why certain EDM processes are incompatible with our coating technology.

April 27, 2022

Improved Thermal Stability of Silcolloy® Coating

This Technical Insight discusses SilcoTek®’s recent improvements on this front to deliver a more thermally stable Silcolloy® coating.

April 27, 2022

Mechanical testing of Coated, Uncoated, and Thermal Treated 316 SS

This Technical Insight studies metallurgical testing of tensile strength, impact resistance and hardness on untreated 316 stainless steel, Dursan® coated 316 stainless, and 316 stainless exposed to the Dursan heat profile under a nitrogen atmosphere.

April 27, 2022

SilcoTek® Coatings in Oxygen Service

This Technical Insight will discuss the suitability of SilcoTek® coatings for use in oxygen service applications.

April 27, 2022

Emissivity of SilcoTek® Coatings on Elgiloy

This Technical Insight will discuss how our coatings impact Elgiloy (cobalt, chrome, nickel alloy) and its emissivity to solar radiation.

April 27, 2022

Coating Anodized Aluminum Surfaces Technical Insight

This Technical insight will discuss the impact of anodization and hard anodization on aluminum surface finish, and how they may affect the success of SilcoTek®’s coating processes.

April 27, 2022

Technical Insight: SilcoTek® Protective Coatings in a Venusian (Pure Supercritical CO2) Atmosphere

This Technical Insight discusses NASA's efforts to study coatings for protection against supercritical CO2 atmospheres found in nuclear plants or in a Venusian atmosphere.

April 27, 2022

Technical Insight: Protein Resistant Properties of a Chemical Vapor Deposited Coating

The authors of this paper examined Dursan® as an alternative coating solution that may prevent non-specific protein adsorption to surfaces.

April 26, 2022

Autoclave and Steam Impact to SilcoTek® Coatings

This Technical Insight is a summary of findings on the effect of autoclave exposure on various surfaces offered by Silcotek®, using contact angles, thickness, and FT-IR spectroscopy as characterization methods.

April 26, 2022

Solder & Braze Technical Insight

This Technical Insight provides information about brazing and soldering as well as guidelines for treating brazed or soldered parts with SilcoTek®’s chemical vapor deposition coating process.

April 26, 2022

Characterization of Novel Carboxysilane Depositions on Stainless Steel Substrates

This presentation highlights the performance of Dursan® coated surfaces in various applications including moisture analysis, inertness, and corrosion resistance.

April 26, 2022

Material Characterization Capabilities

This white paper aims to provide a brief introduction of different materials characterization techniques available to SilcoTek®, both in-house and through Penn State University, to give our customers a glimpse of the possibilities.

April 26, 2022

Coating Electropolished Surfaces

This whitepaper discusses electropolish frosting and its effect on coating quality.

April 26, 2022

Selection Guide, Sample Transport Tubing

This guide highlights factors to consider when selecting tubing and surface properties for sample transport in analytical applications.

April 26, 2022

Impact of Substrate Imperfections on the Appearance of SilcoTek®’s Coatings

This whitepaper discusses the various types of surface defects that contribute to an imperfect coating appearance, and how SilcoTek® may or may not be able to improve the appearances on these parts.

April 26, 2022

Electronic Property Characterization of SilcoTek® Coatings

This report tests and discusses the electrical properties of SilcoTek® coatings.

April 26, 2022

How to Effectively Remove Light Rust From Stainless Steel Surfaces

This report discusses methods for removing rust from stainless steel surfaces.

April 26, 2022

A Comparison of Coatings Used to Enhance the Moisture Performance of Analyzer Flow Paths

This paper will review test data and recommend coating compatibility for moisture and moisture related adsorptive effects in continuous emission monitor (CEM) flow paths.

April 26, 2022

Technical Insight: Relative Response Time When Measuring Moisture Content in a Sample Stream

This report will determine relative response times of commercial 316L SS tubing, electropolished 316L SS tubing, and SilcoNert®-coated electropolished 316L SS tubing for the transmission of sample streams containing low concentrations of moisture.

April 26, 2022

Contact Angle Evaluation of SilcoTek® Depositions

This report will evaluate and discuss the significance of contact angle data for two different liquids on a variety of SilcoTek® surfaces. SilcoNert® 2000, SilcoKlean®, Silcolloy®, Dursan® and a Dursan-based prototype will be highlighted.

April 26, 2022

Characterizing Performance and Reliability in Analytical Instruments

This paper presents laboratory corrosion and chemical inertness test results for a variety of chemically deposited coatings.

April 26, 2022

Technical Insight: Relative Response Time of TrueTube™ When Measuring Moisture Content in a Sample Stream

This Technical Insight will determine relative response times of commercial 316L SS tubing, electropolished 316L SS tubing, and SilcoNert® coated electropolished 316L SS tubing for the transmission of sample streams containing low concentrations of moisture.

April 26, 2022

Comparative Analysis of Tekmar 3000 and 3100 Purge and Trap Sample Concentrators

A comprehensive study is performed of SilcoTek® coated and uncoated surfaces utilized on both the Tekmar 3100 and Tekmar 3000 Sample Concentrators and the results are compared.

April 26, 2022

Technical Insight: Characterizing the Performance of Surface Modifications that Enhance Sensitivity, Reliability, Reproducbility and Accuracy of Analytical Instruments

This Technical Insight presents laboratory corrosion and chemical inertness test results of SilcoTek®’s CVD coatings, and evaluates their performance in environments common to the petrochemical, refining and offshore industries.

April 26, 2022

Mass Transport in Sample Transport Lines Adsorption Desorption Effects And Their Influence On Process Analytical Measurement

This paper will discuss theoretical and practical analysis of factors and design guidelines used to minimize sample loss and adsorption in analytical sampling systems.

April 25, 2022

Presentation: Passivation of Components Used for Sample Transfer and Holding

This presentation reviews sampling methods and results for trace level analysis of sulfur and sulfur containing compounds in various applications.

April 25, 2022

Technical Insight: Enhance Sensitivity, Reliability, Reproducbility and Accuracy of Analytical Instruments

This paper presents laboratory corrosion and chemical inertness test results of SilcoTek®’s CVD coatings, and evaluates their performance in environments common to the petrochemical, refining and offshore industries.

April 25, 2022

Technical Insight: Iodine Vapor Exposure Testing of SilcoTek® Coatings

NASA has developed an experiment to study the interaction between iodine and a variety of common spacecraft materials. In their tests, they have included Silcolloy® and Dursan®-coated coupons for evaluation.

April 25, 2022

Technical Insight: SilcoNert® 2000 on Aluminum for Measuring Ammonia

Researchers looking to develop an ammonia detection system investigated the use of anodized aluminum and SilcoNert® 2000 coated aluminum.

April 25, 2022

Presentation: The Use of Coatings to Improve Reliability for Ammonia

This presentation discusses multiple design factors to maximize system performance and reliability. Including surface inertness in ammonia sampling and other applications.

April 25, 2022

Improving Ammonia Reference Standards with Inert Coatings

In this report, researchers tested a number of different cylinder types by performing a series of decant tests at the 100 and 10 µmol/mol levels. They showed that adsorption of ammonia molecules on cylinder walls was minimised when the internal surfaces of stainless steel cylinders were passivated using the SilcoNert 2000® treatment.

April 25, 2022

Presentation: Adsorption of Ammonia on Metal and Polymer Surfaces

This presentation compares adsorption rates of ammonia on metal, coated metal, and polymer surfaces.

April 25, 2022

Sampling and Analytical Methods

This paper discusses development of an arsine gas, selenium (as hydrogen selenide), and mercury (as elemental mercury) Analytical Method for Reducing Flue Gas Environments. A sampling protocol will be developed including sample-conditioning solutions that will convert the desired species into a form suitable for CEMs.

April 25, 2022

Presentation: Comparision of Surface Composition on Stability of Mercury Transfer and Holding

This presentation will discuss the need for inert system components when testing mercury. Prevent mercury loss and surface adsorption during holding and transfer.

April 25, 2022

Mercury Management and Chemical Decontamination

This whitepaper presents data from two separate analytical and chemical bench tests, designed to first measure baseline mercury mass and concentrations and then quantify the subsequent reductions from chemical processes as measured primarily by atomic fluorescence spectrometry.

April 25, 2022

Advanced Gassification Mercury/Trace Metal Control With Monolith Traps

This paper discusses ways to test mercury emissions from syngas sorbent samples. Inert coatings are used to minimize adsorption.

April 20, 2022

Presentation: Evaluation of System Surfaces in Low Level Sulfur Analysis

An overview of coating performance for sulfur analysis, active compound analysis, corrosion resistance, moisture resistance, UHV, and anti-coking applications.

April 20, 2022

Presentation: The Do's and Don’ts in the Analysis of Sulfur for Polyolefin Producers

Get tips on how to accurately sample and test trace sulfur in GC analytical systems for refinery and process applications.

April 20, 2022

Presentation: Trace Level Sulfur Analysis in Refinery, Beverage and Environmental Applications

A review of trace level analysis of sulfur in refinery, beverage grade CO2, and environmental emissions analysis applications.

April 20, 2022

Presentation: Analysis of Low-Level 1ppb to 20ppb Reactive Sulfurs in Air Sample

Analysis of low level sulfur stability in air sampling canisters and sampling cylinders. Sulfur VOC analysis in 1-20 ppbv range.

April 20, 2022

Presentation: The Preparation of Low Concentration Hydrogen Sulfide Standards

Learn about sulfur adsorption rate in stainless steel sample cylinders and how to minimize sample loss.

April 20, 2022

Presentation: The Analysis of Trace Level Sulfurs in Beverage Grade CO2

A review of packed column analysis of sulfur in beverage grade CO2.

April 20, 2022

Presentation: A Review of Coatings Used to Improve Reliability in Sampling Equipment

Learn about SilcoNert® 2000 applications and benefits.

April 20, 2022

Performance of Total Sulfur Analysis in Refinery Flare Vent Gas Systems

This paper will discuss the method to extract and sample the process stream with minimal loss or adsorption of the analyte and provide data for on-line total sulfur and HHV analysis.

April 13, 2022

Adsorption Desorption Effects And Their Influence On Process Analytical Measurements

This paper presents laboratory corrosion and chemical inertness test results for a variety of chemically deposited coatings.

April 13, 2022

Technical Insight: Sodium Hydroxide, Base Exposure Resistance Testing

This Technical Insight explores the impact of 5% sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution on four SilcoTek coatings.

April 13, 2022

Technical Insight: Alloy MP35N Metal Ion Leaching

We investigate the metal ion leaching of MP35N in pure methanol, water, and acetonitrile.

April 13, 2022

Technical Insight: Acetonitrile Metal Ion Leaching

We test HPLC grade acetonitrile for metal ion leaching to see how it may compare to other typical solvents.

April 13, 2022

Technical Insight: Metal Ion Leaching in Deionized Water

We test ultrapure DI water to see if the corrosion patterns follow the methanol studies.

April 13, 2022

Technical Insight: Organic Solvent Metal Ion Leaching, C-22 Hastelloy

In this Technical Insight we investigate the corrosion and metal contamination of C-22 in pure methanol and the impact that SilcoTek® coatings have on this corrosion.

April 13, 2022

Technical Insight: Protection Against Metal Ion Contamination from Titanium and Stainless Steel

In this study titanium is investigated as a substrate for SilcoTek®’s coating prevention of metal ion leaching.

April 13, 2022

Technical Insight: Protection Against Organic Solvent Metal Ion Leaching

This Technical Insight will investigate whether Dursan® and other SilcoTek® coatings can prevent metal ions from leaching into pure organic solvents.

April 13, 2022

Technical Insight: Corrosion Rate Evaluation of SilcoTek® Coatings

This Technical Insight focuses on using an electrochemical method to gain corrosion rate information.

October 10, 2018

Coating for Corrosion & Metal Ion Contamination (ASMC 2017 Paper)

This paper discusses how silicon barrier coatings improve corrosion resistance and prevent metal contamination in semiconductor etch processes.

May 16, 2018

Improving Corrosion Resistance and Sampling Reliability with Inert-Coated Tubing

Testing was conducted to determine the relative corrosion resistance of Hastelloy C-22, commercial 316L SS, commercial tube with fused silica coating.

May 15, 2018

Improving The Reliability of Analytical And Sampling Systems in Corrosive Environments

This paper presents laboratory corrosion and chemical inertness test results of SilcoTek®’s CVD coatings, and evaluates their performance in environments common to hydrocarbon processing.