A Review of the Operating Limits in Slot Die Coating Processes

Slot die coating is a pre-metered process commonly used for producing thin and uniform films. It is an important film fabrication method for applications where precise coating is required. A major concern in slot die coating processes is how to determine the operating limits to set the appropriate range of operating parameters, including coating speed, flow rate, vacuum pressure, coating gap, liquid viscosity and surface tension, etc. Operating limits directly determine the effectiveness and efficiency of the process. In this article, the current state of academic research on operating limits in slot die coating processes is reviewed. Specifically, the theories, mechanisms, and empirical conclusions related to the limits on vacuum pressure, the low-flow limit, the limit of wet thickness for zero-vacuum-pressure cases, the limit of dynamic wetting failure, and the limits of coating speed for a specific flow rate are reviewed. The article concludes with some recommendations for future work. (c) 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers