What is an Optical Coating?

What is an Optical Coating?

At its core, an optical coating is a thin film deposited on a surface to alter its optical properties. These coatings manipulate the behaviour of light by selectively allowing certain wavelengths to pass through or reflect, while minimizing undesirable effects like glare or distortion.

The Science Behind the Magic

The magic of optical coatings lies in their composition and structure. Typically made from materials like oxides, fluorides, or metals, these coatings are deposited using various techniques such as sputtering, evaporation, or chemical vapor deposition. The thickness and layering of these films are precisely engineered to achieve desired optical properties, such as anti-reflective, high-reflective, or filtering capabilities

Optical coatings may be hidden from plain sight, but their impact is abundant across a multitude of industries, shaping the way we perceive and utilize light.

Diamond Coatings specialize in optical coatings, offering bespoke solutions across a diverse substrate spectrum. Our expansive product range (which you can view here) allows us to manufacture and supply optical and ITO coatings, catering to a variety of industries and sectors.

Applications that Rely on Optical Coatings

Eyeglasses and Microscopes: Anti-reflective coatings reduce glare and improve clarity, enhancing vision and image quality.

Solar Panels: Coatings optimize light transmission while minimizing reflection, boosting the efficiency of solar cells.

Optical Filters: Used in scientific instruments, these coatings selectively transmit or block specific wavelengths of light.

Mirrors and Telescopes: High-reflective coatings enhance reflection for telescopes and mirrors, enabling clearer and sharper images.

Diamond Coatings Optical Coatings

Operating from cutting-edge vacuum coating facilities in Arizona, USA, Diamond Coatings’ journey started in the UK in 2002, subsequently expanding to the US to better serve a global clientele.

Fusing innovation, research and development with state-of-the-art technology, we’ve evolved into a leading manufacturer and supplier of top-notch optical and ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) coatings across a range of substrates. Advancements like our vacuum coating technology have broadened the scope of substrates, enhancing suitability for diverse projects.

Catering to a global clientele spanning industries such as medical, automotive, aerospace, space, research and development, entertainment, military and defense, imaging, and microscopy, Diamond Coatings provides an extensive product range, including:

• Capacitive switches, conductive tapes, and conductive PET films
• Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) and anti-reflection (AR) coatings
• Heated windows, ITO plastic, and touchscreens
• Plastic and glass supplies with hard coatings
• RFI/EMI shielding filters

Additionally, our offerings encompass an extensive range of ITO glass, slides, and coverslips.

Tailored Solutions for Unique Needs

At Diamond Coatings, collaboration with our clients is the key to developing tailor-made solutions. We customize products as needed, offering various dimensions, materials, resistance levels, and other specifications, open for discussion and development.

Acknowledged as the ‘Best ITO & Optical Coatings Company 2019’ by Corporate Vision Magazine (CVM) at the Business Innovation Awards, we earned this accolade through our commitment to innovation and individual solutions for customer projects. Continual design of cutting-edge coating solutions and expansion of our machinery and value-added processes contributed to this recognition.

Talk To Us

For in-depth information on our optical coatings options – or any of our other coatings and products – Please get in touch with us. Whatever your intended application or even if you have any queries, our team of technical experts are ready to assist.