Horizon Microtechnologies, a company specializing in microfabrication, has presented the initial results of a series of tests on the durability of its passivated copper coatings. The internally developed coatings are used for complex, additively manufactured microcomponents, such as those required in electronics, high-frequency technology or aerospace applications. The focus of the investigation was on the long-term stability and environmental resistance of the material under practical conditions.
Copper is a frequently used material due to its electrical conductivity, but is prone to oxidation and structural degradation without a protective layer. Particularly in aggressive environments – such as high humidity, large temperature fluctuations or in oxygen-rich atmospheres such as in low-Earth orbit – the ageing of unprotected copper surfaces can lead to a loss of function. However, conventional protective measures such as metallic coatings or polymer coatings are often not transferable to the fine geometries of microstructured 3D printed parts.
To meet these challenges, Horizon has developed its own passivation process that is specifically tailored to the requirements of micro-additive manufacturing. The stability of the treated copper surfaces was examined in a series of stress tests, including heat exposure, damp heat, cold cycles and exposure to air plasma. While untreated reference copper showed clear signs of corrosion under the same conditions, the passivated samples remained largely unchanged optically and electrically.
“Taken by themselves, our tests demonstrate that concerns about copper ageing on 3D-printed or 3D micro fabricated parts are largely unfounded for a large set of use cases when our passivation technology is applied and they are an extremely encouraging result with a view to long term stability,” says Andreas Frölich, CEO at Horizon. “By proactively addressing oxidation and degradation challenges, we are demonstrating that our coatings are well-suited for applications requiring high durability and environmental resistance.”
The validation work is now to be supplemented by standardized long-term tests in order to meet regulatory requirements in aerospace and electronics manufacturing. However, the results so far indicate that Horizon’s approach offers a reliable solution for applications with high demands on material resistance and electrical integrity.
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