Screen a wide material space, or make focused prototype samples.
Use a screening campaign when the material space is wide. Use a prototype sample project when the question is already narrower. Both paths create physical samples, measured evidence, and a clearer next test.
Concept visual: circular coating wafer on a measurement chuck.
ManyCoating variants
MeasuredPhysical samples
MappedCandidate composition windows
NarrowerValidation path
Physical workflow
One physical workflow, three project shapes.
When one-at-a-time coating tests are too slow, xemX creates related physical variants, measures them, and identifies which composition windows, coating variants, or sample formats are worth making again. Narrower questions can start from selected coatings, controlled films, coated coupons, or scoped test structures.
Make variants
Create controlled coating or thin-film libraries instead of testing one recipe at a time.
Shortlist composition windows, coating variants, or sample formats for supplier discussion, prototype validation, repeat deposition, or technical follow-up.
xemX identifies the coating variants, material compositions, or film process windows worth testing next. Final product, device, field, and qualification testing usually remain downstream.
Project types
Choose the project shape by the decision you need to make.
Some projects start with a physical screening library. Others start with a specific coating, film, stack, or sample question before a supplier round, prototype build, or validation test.
Screening campaign
Explore many related coating or thin-film variants and map which composition windows, coating variants, or film process windows deserve follow-up.
Prototype coating project
Make selected coatings, controlled films, coated coupons, or scoped test structures when the target question is already narrower.
Film ratios before custom targets
Use independent sputter sources to test film ratios before committing to a custom alloy target or downstream validation path.
Follow-up deposition
Repeat candidate compositions from a screening campaign as controlled films, coated samples, or scoped test structures for the next validation format.
Physical samples
From physical variants to follow-up samples.
Concept visual: coated sample variants.
Coated metal and glass samples show how related variants can be compared.
Concept visual: selected follow-up samples.
Selected candidate regions can move into uniform coated samples, follow-up films, or scoped test structures.
Prototype samples
Prototype coating projects can start directly.
If a team already has a target coating, material composition, stack idea, or supplier question, xemX can use sputter deposition to make small-format physical samples. For composition questions, multiple sputter sources can be combined in the deposition run instead of starting with a custom alloy target. The format depends on substrate, geometry, layer stack, measurement route, and the later validation format.
Coated samples
Deposit selected coatings on customer-relevant substrates or coupons when the geometry and process route fit.
Controlled films
Produce selected compositions as controlled films for optical, electrical, mechanical, corrosion, or surface testing.
Scoped test structures
Scope limited stack-relevant samples when the substrate, mask, layer stack, and validation route are technically realistic.
xemX can support prototype coating and selected test-structure work. Full device integration, product qualification, and production transfer usually remain with the customer or downstream partner.
Where it fits
Start with the surface or validation problem.
Use xemX when a coating, surface, or thin-film decision has too many options for blind supplier, prototype, device, or field validation.
Glass / optics
Glass and optical surfaces
Reflectance, color neutrality, transparency, haze, cleanability, fingerprints, scratch, and durability.
Use a physical screening campaign before the expensive test.
Too many options
Supplier samples or one-off recipes do not cover the coating, finish, surface, or material option space you need to compare.
Validation is expensive
Full prototypes, device tests, coupon tests, or field validation are too slow to run blindly.
Tradeoffs decide
Appearance, durability, conductivity, corrosion response, phase, texture, or optical behavior must be balanced.
Output needs to travel
Measured maps, candidate composition windows, and follow-up sample recommendations support internal, supplier, or partner discussions.
Next step
Discuss project fit.
Bring a coating, surface, thin-film, material, process, or prototype sample question. xemX helps determine whether physical screening or a small-format sputter deposition project can support the next validation format.
