Df. Lii et al., Internal stress and adhesive strength of reactive magnetron sputtered indium tin oxide films on acrylics, J CERAM S J, 109(1), 2001, pp. 9-11
Indium tin oxide (ITO) films were deposited on acrylics by low temperature
reactive magnetron sputtering. The effects of oxygen flow and film thicknes
s on the internal stress and adhesion of ITO films on acrylics were evaluat
ed. Results from the measurement of lattice parameters suggested that the i
nternal compressive stress parallel to the film surface increased with incr
easing oxygen flow rate. This was possibly due to the peening effects of bo
mbarding particles and the decrease in oxygen vacancies at relatively high
oxygen flow. Observation of scratched surface after adhesion test showed th
at tensile bending moments occur within the coating as it was pushed down u
nderneath the adhesion test indenter. The critical scratching load of ITO f
ilms invariably increased with oxygen flow and decreased with increasing th
ickness.