Description
Aluminum Sputtering Target: 5N / 99.999% Al for PVD
An Aluminum Sputtering Target is a high-purity source material used to deposit aluminum thin films by physical vapor deposition (PVD), magnetron sputtering, and other vacuum coating processes.
For advanced coating applications, target quality is determined by much more than aluminum content alone. Purity, impurity distribution, grain structure, density, surface condition, dimensional accuracy, and target-to-cathode compatibility can all influence deposition performance.
NiTiCu supplies 5N / 99.999% high-purity aluminum targets for semiconductor, display, optical, electronic, and research applications. Round, rectangular, planar, and drawing-specific dimensions can be manufactured according to customer requirements.
✦ 99.999% / 5N Aluminum
✦ Custom Dimensions & Geometry
✦ PVD / Magnetron Sputtering Applications
✦ Controlled Chemistry & Surface Quality
✦ Backing Plate Requirements Can Be Reviewed
✦ COA / MTC / Inspection Documentation Available
An Aluminum Sputtering Target can be supplied according to the actual cathode dimensions and equipment design rather than being limited to only a few standard sizes.
🔬 Why Use High-Purity Aluminum for Sputtering?
Aluminum combines high electrical conductivity, low density, useful thermal conductivity, and excellent film-forming capability.
These properties make an Aluminum Target particularly useful when thin metallic aluminum layers are required in electronic, semiconductor, display, optical, or research systems.
| Target Feature | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| 🧪 5N Purity | Helps reduce unwanted metallic contamination |
| ⚡ High Conductivity | Suitable for conductive thin-film applications |
| 🔬 Controlled Microstructure | Supports more consistent erosion behavior |
| 📐 Dimensional Accuracy | Improves compatibility with cathode systems |
| ✨ Clean Surface | Reduces contamination before installation |
| 🧾 Traceable Chemistry | Supports specification-controlled projects |
| 🧲 Custom Geometry | Allows matching to different PVD systems |
For sensitive deposition processes, a high-purity Aluminum Sputtering Target provides a cleaner source material than ordinary commercial aluminum.
⚙️ Product Specifications
| Item | Typical Supply |
|---|---|
| Product | Aluminum Sputtering Target |
| Material | High-Purity Aluminum |
| Purity | 99.999% / 5N |
| Chemical Symbol | Al |
| CAS No. | 7429-90-5 |
| Atomic Number | 13 |
| Density | Approx. 2.70 g/cm³ |
| Melting Point | Approx. 660.3°C |
| Form | Round / Rectangular / Planar / Custom |
| Thickness | Custom |
| Diameter | Custom |
| Width & Length | Custom |
| Surface | Precision Machined / Cleaned |
| Edge | Chamfer / Radius / Custom |
| Backing Plate | Reviewed according to equipment design |
| Bonding | Subject to target geometry and requirements |
| Inspection | Chemistry / Dimensions / Surface |
| Documents | COA / MTC / Inspection Report |
5N aluminum sputtering targets are commercially supplied at 99.999% purity, and custom dimensions are common in the market. Goodfellow Advanced Materials
🧪 What Does 5N Aluminum Mean?
A 5N Aluminum Target refers to aluminum with a nominal purity of 99.999%.
This means the total level of non-aluminum elements is tightly restricted compared with ordinary industrial aluminum.
However, total purity should not be the only acceptance criterion for demanding PVD applications.
Important Impurities May Include
Fe · Si · Cu · Mg · Zn · Ti · Cr · Ni · O · N · C
Different applications may be sensitive to different elements.
| Impurity Group | Potential Concern |
|---|---|
| Fe / Ni / Cr | Metallic contamination |
| Si | Film composition control |
| Cu | Electrical and semiconductor process sensitivity |
| Mg / Zn | Unwanted alloying contamination |
| O | Surface and film chemistry |
| C / N | High-purity process control |
For semiconductor or high-reliability applications, the customer should provide any maximum impurity limits together with the RFQ.
A 5N Aluminum Target should therefore be evaluated using the actual chemistry report—not only the headline “99.999%” purity number.
🧬 Microstructure & Grain Control
The internal structure of an Aluminum Sputtering Target can influence how the target erodes during sputtering.
Target production may involve melting, refining, forging, rolling, heat treatment, machining, and final surface preparation. Each step can influence the final metallurgical condition.
Important microstructural considerations include:
| Metallurgical Factor | Importance |
|---|---|
| Grain Size | Can influence local sputtering behavior |
| Grain Uniformity | Helps reduce variation across the target |
| Texture / Orientation | May influence erosion characteristics |
| Density | Important for target integrity |
| Internal Defects | Should be minimized |
| Processing History | Influences final microstructure |
Major aluminum target manufacturers specifically emphasize both ultra-high purity and crystal structure control for IC and LCD applications. Sumitomo Chemical
NiTiCu can review grain-size or metallurgical requirements when these are defined by the customer’s specification.
🔎 Do not specify an arbitrary grain-size limit unless your process requires it.
If grain size is critical, include the required acceptance method and maximum value in the drawing or specification.
⚡ Stable PVD Deposition
During sputtering, energetic ions bombard the target surface and eject aluminum atoms into the vacuum chamber.
These atoms then travel toward the substrate and form a thin aluminum layer.
A consistent Sputtering Target helps support more predictable deposition because the source material is chemically and structurally controlled.
For a high-quality Aluminum Sputtering Target, several factors work together:
Purity + Microstructure + Density + Surface + Geometry
Purity
High purity reduces the risk of unwanted metallic species entering the deposited film.
Microstructure
A more uniform target body helps reduce local metallurgical variation across the erosion zone.
Surface Quality
A clean, well-machined surface reduces machining residue and handling contamination before the target enters the vacuum system.
Geometry
Correct dimensions improve mechanical fit and thermal contact with the cathode or backing structure.
This is why a 5N Aluminum Target should not be treated as ordinary aluminum plate cut into a circle.
🧲 DC Magnetron Sputtering
Because aluminum is electrically conductive, an Aluminum Target is commonly used in DC and magnetron sputtering systems where equipment design permits.
The actual deposition process depends on:
Power · Pressure · Argon Flow · Target-Substrate Distance · Substrate Temperature · Cathode Design
These process parameters are controlled by the coating system rather than by the target alone.
The role of the Aluminum Sputtering Target is to provide a stable, clean, and controlled aluminum source for the deposition process.
📐 Custom Target Dimensions
Different sputtering systems use different target geometries.
For this reason, NiTiCu supports custom target manufacturing rather than restricting customers to a single diameter or thickness.
| 📐 Custom Feature | Supply Option |
|---|---|
| Round Target | Custom diameter & thickness |
| Rectangular Target | Custom width, length & thickness |
| Square Target | Drawing based |
| Planar Target | Available |
| Chamfer | Customer specified |
| Edge Radius | Customer specified |
| Step / Groove | Subject to drawing review |
| Mounting Hole | Subject to drawing |
| Special Profile | Technical review required |
An Aluminium Sputtering Target supplied for European or UK equipment follows the same material concept; “aluminium” is simply the British spelling of aluminum.
For precision projects, a drawing is strongly recommended.
🧲 Monolithic or Backed Target
Depending on the sputtering system, the Aluminum Sputtering Target may be used as a monolithic target or as part of a backed assembly.
◈ Monolithic Target
The complete target body is manufactured from high-purity aluminum.
This is suitable where the target thickness and cathode design allow direct installation.
◈ Target with Backing Plate
Some systems require the sputtering material to be bonded or assembled to a backing plate.
Factors that may influence the design include:
Target Diameter · Thickness · Power Density · Cooling · Cathode Structure · Backing Material
Backing plate and bonding requirements should therefore be reviewed together with the target drawing.
⚙️ If an existing target is being replaced, sending the original drawing or detailed photographs can greatly reduce dimensional errors.
✨ Surface Machining & Cleanliness
Surface quality is especially important for a 5N Aluminum Target because high-purity material can still be contaminated by poor machining or handling.
After machining, the target may require controlled cleaning and protective packaging.
| Surface Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
| Precision Machining | Final dimensional control |
| Fine Finish | Improved surface consistency |
| Deburring | Removes sharp machining edges |
| Cleaning | Reduces machining residue |
| Specified Ra | Customer-defined surface roughness |
| Protected Handling | Helps reduce contamination |
When surface roughness is important, customers should provide an actual Ra value rather than requesting only “smooth” or “mirror finish.”
🏭 Typical Applications
The Aluminum Sputtering Target is widely used for metallic aluminum thin-film deposition.
| Application | Typical Function |
|---|---|
| 💻 Semiconductor / IC | Metallization and conductive layers |
| 🖥️ LCD / Display | Conductive and interconnect structures |
| ⚡ Microelectronics | Aluminum conductive films |
| 🔭 Optical Systems | Reflective metallic coatings |
| 🧪 Thin-Film Research | Experimental aluminum layers |
| 🛡️ PVD Coating | Functional metallic coatings |
| 🔬 Vacuum Deposition | Controlled aluminum film deposition |
High-purity aluminum sputtering targets are established materials for IC and LCD manufacturing, and commercial 5N targets are also positioned for semiconductor and advanced optical applications. Sumitomo Chemical
💻 Aluminum Targets for Semiconductor Metallization
Semiconductor applications are particularly sensitive to material purity.
A 5N Aluminum Target can be used where low metallic contamination and controlled thin-film composition are important.
In these applications, customers may define stricter requirements for:
Purity · Fe · Cu · Si · Grain Structure · Surface · Dimensions
These requirements should be confirmed before manufacturing.
NiTiCu does not recommend assuming that all semiconductor processes require the same target specification.
The correct Aluminum Target should be matched to the actual wafer process, equipment, and film requirement.
🖥️ Aluminum Targets for Displays
An Aluminium Sputtering Target can also be used in display-related thin-film systems.
Large-area or high-throughput coating systems may place additional emphasis on:
Target Uniformity · Dimensions · Flatness · Microstructure · Backing Design
These requirements can differ significantly from small laboratory targets.
For large or specialized targets, the drawing should identify all critical dimensions and mounting features.
🔍 Quality Inspection
A high-purity Sputtering Target requires more than visual inspection.
Depending on customer requirements, inspection can include:
| Inspection Item | Availability |
|---|---|
| Chemical Composition | ✓ |
| Purity Verification | ✓ |
| Diameter | ✓ |
| Width / Length | ✓ |
| Thickness | ✓ |
| Flatness | When specified |
| Surface Condition | ✓ |
| Chamfer / Edge Geometry | ✓ |
| Drawing Dimensions | ✓ |
| Special Metallurgical Inspection | On Request |
📄 Documentation
Available documentation may include:
COA — Certificate of Analysis
MTC — Material Test Certificate
Chemical Composition Report
Dimensional Inspection Report
Additional testing requirements should be confirmed at the quotation stage.
📦 Clean Protective Packaging
After final machining and inspection, an Aluminum Sputtering Target should be protected from scratches, dirt, moisture, and unnecessary handling.
Packaging Focus
Surface Protection → Clean Wrapping → Individual Separation → Rigid Packaging → Export Protection
The packaging method is selected according to:
Target Size · Thickness · Quantity · Surface Condition · Backing Configuration
High-purity targets should remain protected until installation whenever possible.
🌐 Why Choose NiTiCu?
NiTiCu focuses on high-purity and custom metal products for industrial and research applications.
For an Aluminum Sputtering Target, we focus on four areas:
| 🎯 Material | 📐 Dimensions | 🔬 Quality |
|---|---|---|
| 5N / 99.999% Al | Custom target geometry | Chemistry verification |
| Impurity requirements reviewed | Drawing-based machining | Surface inspection |
| 🧲 System Fit | 📄 Documentation | 📦 Supply |
|---|---|---|
| Backing requirements reviewed | COA / MTC available | Protective packaging |
| Target geometry checked | Inspection reports | International shipment |
Whether you need a small laboratory Aluminum Target or a drawing-specific target for industrial PVD equipment, the specification can be reviewed before production.
💬 Contact NiTiCu
Need a custom Aluminum Sputtering Target for PVD, semiconductor, display, or research use?
Send us your drawing or target specification and our team will review the purity, dimensions, machining requirements, backing configuration, lead time, and quotation.
+86 133 3537 3172
https://wa.me/8613335373172
✉️ Sales Email
RFQs, drawings, target specifications, and technical requirements are welcome.
⏱ Response Time
Normally within 24 hours
5N Purity · Custom Dimensions · PVD Target Supply · Technical Review
Purchasing and Selection FAQ
What does 5N aluminum mean for a sputtering target?
5N means nominal 99.999% aluminum purity. Confirm the lot chemistry, analysis basis and critical impurity limits; the purity number alone does not guarantee film quality. Chamber condition, handling, microstructure and deposition settings also affect the aluminum film.
How should the aluminum target fit and backing be specified?
Use the cathode drawing to define diameter or width and length, thickness, steps and mounting features. Confirm the cooling interface, backing material and bonding requirement before production. A target with the right purity can still be unsuitable if the assembly does not fit the cathode.
Is a pure aluminum target interchangeable with an aluminum alloy target?
No. This page specifies high-purity aluminum. If the film requires an Al-Si, Al-Cu or another aluminum alloy composition, state that composition separately in the RFQ. Select the source material for the intended film and process rather than substituting solely by target dimensions.
Related resources: Copper sputtering target · Titanium sputtering target · Target RFQ and purchasing guide
Technical references: Kurt J. Lesker: target purity, handling and bonded configurations · Sumitomo Chemical: aluminum sputtering targets for IC applications

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